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travelling europe with british passport

  • Passports, travel and living abroad
  • Travel abroad

Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

  • you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
  • you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

  • studying a short course
  • getting medical treatment
  • travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
  • journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to EU countries that are not in the Schengen area

Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in each of these countries without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in these countries.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

  • stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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Visiting Europe from January 2024: A guide for British travellers

travelling europe with british passport

European countries like Spain, Italy, and France are ever-popular destinations for British holidaymakers.

The rules for travelling between the UK and Europe have changed in the past few years and it is important to keep this in mind.

Since Brexit, Brits no longer enjoy freedom of movement in the EU. This means that things have changed for UK passport holders visiting Europe as a tourist and for EU citizens visiting the UK .

This article looks at the rules UK travellers need to follow to visit European countries. It covers the following information:

  • Whether British citizens will need visas before travelling to a European destination
  • What British travellers should do to ensure their passport is valid
  • What will change when arriving in Europe
  • How UK visitors’ travel insurance requirements will change
  • What mobile phone roaming charges could apply
  • How pets will be able to travel with their owners to Europe

Do British tourists need a visa to visit Europe?

British tourists can still visit Europe without a visa. UK citizens are permitted visa exemption for short trips of under 90 days for tourism or business within the Schengen zone.

However, in the near future, UK passport holders will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver online and pay a small fee before travelling to the Schengen Area.

The UK Government is aiming to introduce a similar scheme for European visitors to Britain. The UK ETA visa waiver is now available to visitors from certain countries. It is expected to be made compulsory for all EU nationals.

For longer stays or to work full-time in Europe, British citizens must acquire a work permit or Schengen visa from the country they wish to live in. They need to apply at the embassy of the country in question.

Are British passports be valid on a trip to Europe in 2024?

Yes, you can still use a British passport to travel to European countries.

When travelling to the EU, you must make sure your passport meets the following requirements :

  • Valid for 6+ months after the date of arrival in the EU
  • Issued less than 10 years ago

Before travelling to the European Union or Schengen Area, British travellers may find new passport restrictions apply . These are minor in nature but could affect a person’s ability to enter an EU country.

First of all, UK visitors to Europe must make sure their passport has over 6 months of validity remaining from their date of entry into the EU. In practice, this means that no more than 9 years and 6 months must have passed since the passport’s date of issue.

Under European regulations, a passport must not be over 10 years old . Any travel documents older than this will automatically be considered invalid, even if it is still within its expiry date.

This situation could occur because the British passport office usually adds extra time to the validity of a passport if it is renewed early. These extra days of validity, however, would not be accepted in the EU, where the cut-off is 10 years from the date of issue .

If this situation applies to you, you may need to renew your passport earlier than expected before a European holiday. This must be done before 9 years and 6 months have passed since the document’s date of issue to travel to an EU country.

For example, if a passport was issued on the 1st December 2011, it will no longer be accepted at an EU or Schengen port of entry from 1st June 2021. This rule is applied even if the document hasn’t expired or has over 6 months left to run.

What new procedures do British tourists face when arriving in Europe?

One change that British tourists face when arriving in a European destination is that they may no longer be able to use the dedicated queue for EU and Swiss passengers . Instead, they will need to join the international queue.

Additionally, UK tourists may be required to provide evidence that they are only travelling to the EU for tourism or business. This may include return tickets to the UK and proof of sufficient funds for the duration of their trip.

Will British tourists need travel insurance in the EU?

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used until it expires . The EHIC entitles the holder to state medical treatment in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

After the card expires, the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will replace it. UK travellers are still advised to take out health insurance.

Will British tourists have to pay mobile phone roaming charges?

Mobile phone roaming charges have made a return for some British tourists . The requirement that operators must waive roaming costs no longer apply to UK mobile networks.

However, the reintroduction of extra mobile charges when travelling abroad in Europe are at the discretion of mobile network operators . Therefore, tourists are advised to check before arriving in the EU whether these additional costs apply to them or not.

Are UK Driving licences still valid in Europe?

It will still be possible to use a UK driving licence in Europe, as long as your licence is a card issued in the UK itself.

You will need an international driving permit (IDP) if your licence is:

  • A paper driving licence
  • From Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands

Additionally, UK citizens driving their car from Britain to Europe may also need to follow additional steps . When travelling to the EU by car, UK passport holders should ensure to have proof of insurance and to display a “GB” nationality sticker on their vehicle.

Can British tourists still bring their pets to Europe?

Yes, British tourists can still travel with pets such as cats, dogs or ferrets. However, travellers will face additional safety measures to do so.

Pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid to travel to an EU country or Northern Island.

Pets need to be microchipped, receive a rabies vaccination a few weeks before travel, and may need to hold an animal health certificate (AHC). AHCs will need to be renewed for each trip the animal makes to Europe.

With so many changes, it’s especially important to be prepared when travelling to a European country from the UK.

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Everything you need to know about travel to Europe after Brexit

Do you need a visa to travel to the EU after Brexit? Here’s how the rules are looking in 2024

Huw Oliver

Way back in 2020, the UK left the EU and Brexit took effect. Since then, a hell of a lot has changed about how we travel. There’s now plenty of extra stuff to think about when planning a trip overseas to Europe (especially if it’s for longer periods). So, we ’ve rounded up all the changes to the rules that we’ll have to follow, now that we’re no longer EU citizens. Here is everything you need to know.

RECOMMENDED: 🌤️The best city breaks in Europe for 2024 🏩The best hotels in Europe 🚄The best European sleeper trains launching in 2024 🏂The best affordable ski resorts in Europe

You should probably check your passport

Up until January 2021, all UK citizens with a valid passport were able to travel freely throughout Europe. Now, though, you may need to renew your passport much earlier than you might think. On the day you travel, your passport must have at least six months left before it expires, or you might not be able to travel to any EU countries, or the EEA states of Iceland , Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland . (The old rules still apply for travel to Ireland.)

You can check if you need to renew your passport before travelling using this tool from the British government, and you can apply for a new one here . Make sure you renew it at least a couple of months before you’re planning to travel, as it may take several weeks to process applications in busy times (including right now).

You can no longer apply for an EHIC

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will remain valid until its expiry date, but you can no longer apply for a new one. In 2021, the UK government launched a replacement scheme, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) , which will entitle you to necessary state healthcare for free or at reduced cost in Europe and other countries with reciprocal arrangements such as Australia and New Zealand . You can apply for one on the official GHIC website .

Free mobile roaming is a thing of the past

The guarantee of free mobile roaming throughout the EU, the Schengen area and the Norway, Iceland and Liechenstein, came to an end on December 31, 2020. It ’s best to c heck with your phone operator to find out about any charges you may incur in the country you’re travelling to.

Border checks may feel a little different

At border control, you will now need to use separate lanes from EU citizens when queuing. Officials may also be more inquisitive than before, asking you to provide a return or onward ticket and prove that you have enough money for the length of your initial stay.

Your driving licence will still be valid – but you’ll need a ‘green card’ proving you have insurance too

Despite reports British drivers would soon have to apply for an ‘international driving permit’ before travelling to the Continent, according to the terms of the Brexit deal, UK licences will still be valid within the EU.

According to this advice by the Foreign Office , you do not need a ‘green card’ (proving you have car insurance cover when driving abroad) when driving in the EU. However, countries where they do apply include Albania, Azerbijan, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine. 

Visas are now required for longer stays

If you’re a tourist, you won’t need a visa for short trips to most EU and EEA countries. You will be able to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. To stay for longer than 90 days, or if you ’re working,  you will have to get a visa or travel permit.

The EU has set up this short-term stay visa calculator to help travellers calculate how much longer they can stay in Europe. Visit the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s ‘travel advice’ pages  to find out the application process for each country.

The rules for Bulgaria, Croatia , Cyprus and Romania will be different (this is because they aren ’t in the Schengen area ): visits to those four countries will not count towards the 90-day total. 

These arrangements are up to date as of January 2024. They may change, so check back soon for the latest updates on travel to Europe.

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Is my passport valid for travel to Europe?

Passport rules have changed since brexit. here’s what you need to know.

travelling europe with british passport

I f your passport is more than ten years old or there is less than three months left before it expires, you may not be able to use it to travel to certain countries within Europe, including those in the EU. The rules came into effect after Brexit , with Ireland being the only exception. Here’s what you need to know.

Main photo: Alamy

What documents do I need to travel from the UK?

A valid passport is essential for travelling outside of the UK. For travel to the EU and EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), it needs to be less than ten years old when you enter the country and have at least three months left on it the day after you leave. The only exception is if you are travelling to Ireland — which is part of the Common Travel Area with the UK — where you can travel up to the day your passport expires.

Depending on where you are travelling to, for what purpose and for how long, you may also need to get a visa. After Brexit, UK nationals are only permitted to stay in EU countries for a maximum of 90 days out of 180, after which a visa or other entry permit may be needed. You will need to check the entry requirements for each individual country you are visiting.

If you are planning to drive or hire a car, you will need to take your driving licence. And if you only have a paper version of the licence, or your licence was issued in Gibraltar , Guernsey , Jersey or the Isle of Man, you may need to apply for an International Driving Licence, which costs £5.50 from the Post Office. Those taking their own cars across the border will also need relevant insurance and vehicle registration details as well as a UK sticker on the vehicle.

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When travelling to EU countries, you may also want to apply for and take your UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC). This free benefit replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for most UK nationals after Brexit. It entitles you to the same access to public medical care as residents, which will either be free or heavily subsidised. In some cases, having the card with you is a requisite of ensuring your travel insurance is valid.

Can you travel to Europe without a passport from the UK?

In most cases, you will need your passport to travel to Europe. Ireland is the only exception, although the government still advises taking your passport with you, and airlines will typically insist on it.

What if I lose my passport?

If you have lost your passport, or you do not have time to get a new one before you travel, you may be able to apply for an emergency travel document. These cost £100 and you will need to attend a British embassy in person after you have applied online. The document contains your exact itinerary, and if you decide to change your plans at the last minute you will need a new document.

Can you travel with an expired passport within Europe?

In theory, yes, because land borders within the Schengen area are open and ID checks are only carried out in exceptional circumstances. For example, the Spanish government has said that its citizens may enter the country on an expired passport or ID after its authenticity has been checked; however, a valid travel document is still required to leave the country. In the case of the UK, your passport will be checked at all border controls and you will need to make sure it’s valid for travel.

Passport control at Heathrow Airport (Getty Images)

How long do you need on your passport to travel to Spain?

Like most countries in the EU, Spain requires those travelling on a British passport to have at least three months remaining after the day you plan to leave. You also need to check that it is less than ten years old when you enter Spain.

How long do you need on your passport to travel to Greece?

For Greece , the usual EU passport validity rules apply. This means it needs to be less than ten years old when you enter the country and have at least three months left on it the day after you leave.

How long do you need on your passport to travel to Portugal?

EU passport validity rules also apply in Portugal . So your passport needs to be less than ten years old when you enter the country and have at least three months left on it the day after you leave.

How long do you need on your passport to travel to the USA?

For entry into the USA , your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your stay although it doesn’t need to have any additional validity on it. However, you may need an Esta or visa for entry.

How long do you need on your passport to travel to Turkey?

Turkey requires UK passport holders to have at least six months remaining on their passports from the day they arrive. It also needs to have a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps.

• What is the EU’s new entry system and what will it mean for my holiday? • Are there roaming charges in Europe? • Most powerful passports in the world

Take me there

Wanting to visit Europe but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from TUI Holidays and Expedia . Here’s a selection of some of the best European tour itineraries from our Times Travel partners .

Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here .

Related articles

Travelling to Europe after Brexit: how will it affect holidays?

Travelling in Europe

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

If you’re planning to travel in the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein you should:

check the latest travel advice on GOV.UK - there might be extra rules because of coronavirus

check your passport is valid for the dates you’re travelling

get travel insurance

find out if you’ll be charged more to use your mobile phone

check you’ve got everything you have to take if you’ll be driving, for example a UK sticker for your car

check you’ve got the right documents if you’re taking your pet

Check your passport is valid for the dates you’re travelling

You’ll need to renew your passport if either:

there’s less than 3 months left on your passport at any time while you’re travelling - check your passport to find out when it expires

your passport is 10 years old or more on the day you enter the EU country - count this from the date your passport was issued

You can check if your passport will be valid for your trip on GOV.UK . You’ll need to search for the country you’re going to and click on ‘entry requirements’.

Apply for your passport as early as you can - it can take several weeks to process in busy times. If you need to renew a passport urgently, you can book an appointment for the 1 week Fast Track service on GOV.UK .

Get travel insurance

If you're a UK resident and have an existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you can still use it to get state provided healthcare in EU countries until it expires. You can also use an existing EHIC in Switzerland if you’re a UK national, Swiss national or EU citizen.

You can’t use an existing EHIC in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein - you’ll need to get a new one instead.

You might be able to apply for a new EHIC if before 1 January 2021 you started being one of the following:

an EU citizen living in in the UK

a Norwegian, Icelandic, Liechtenstein or Swiss national living in the UK

a UK student studying in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland

a UK state pensioner living in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland

You might also be able to apply for an EHIC if you're a family member or dependant of someone who’s eligible.

You can apply for a new EHIC for free on the NHS website - you can apply up to 6 months before your existing EHIC expires. You should be careful if you see other websites offering EHICs, they’ll usually try to charge you.

You might be able to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead if:

you don’t have an EHIC

your EHIC has expired

you’re not eligible for an EHIC

You might also be able to apply for a GHIC if you're a family member or dependant of someone who’s eligible.

You can use a GHIC to get ‘medically necessary’ healthcare in EU countries at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Medically necessary healthcare means any treatment that can’t wait until you get back to the UK. You can also use it in Switzerland if you’re a UK national, Swiss national or EU citizen. If you’re travelling to Norway, you can use your UK passport for medically necessary healthcare.

You can apply for a GHIC for free on the NHS website .

You should still get travel insurance before your trip - even if you have an EHIC or GHIC. An EHIC or GHIC won’t cover the cost of travel back to your own country if you’re ill - this is known as ‘repatriation’. Repatriation can be very expensive.

If you have an existing illness or health issue

Most travel insurance won’t cover you for any illnesses or health issues you already have. If they do, you'll usually have to pay more money.

It’s important to tell your insurer if you have any existing health issues before buying insurance. If they can’t cover you, they should recommend a specialist insurance company that can.

If you have an EHIC or GHIC, it might allow you to get routine medical care for existing illnesses or health issues. You should check with the healthcare provider in the country you’re travelling to first. Some treatments might need to be arranged before you travel.

Find out if you’ll be charged more to use your mobile phone

You might have to pay more to use your mobile phone in the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

Before you go, ask your mobile phone service provider what the charges will be for using your mobile phone abroad.  

Make sure you understand how to turn off mobile roaming on your phone if you’re worried about extra charges. This is usually in the phone’s ‘settings’ menu under ‘mobile roaming’.

If you want to use data abroad, check with your mobile provider to see if you have a data bundle that can be used abroad. If you don’t have a bundle or you’ve used it up, you’ll be charged for data.

You can ask your mobile provider if there’s a limit to how much data you can use abroad. If there’s no limit, you can tell them to set a limit on how much you want to spend.

Your mobile provider will tell you when you’re about to reach the agreed limit.

If you’re driving abroad

If you’re planning to drive in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you'll need to take:

your driving licence and vehicle log book – you should check they’re up to date first

a UK sticker for your vehicle

a hired vehicle certificate – if you’re hiring or leasing your vehicle

an emissions sticker if you’re going to a European city that needs one - you might need to apply a few months before you travel

You might also have to take other things like a reflective jacket or a warning triangle sticker – it depends where you’re going. Check what else you need to take if you’re driving abroad on the AA’s website.

Check your driving licence and vehicle log book are up to date

You’ll need to take your driving licence with you. If it’s about to run out, you’ll need to renew it at least a week before you travel. You can check if your driving licence is still valid and order a new one on GOV.UK.

You’ll also need to take your vehicle log book (V5C) with you. If you don’t have one, you can order a replacement log book  from DVLA. Ask for it at least 6 weeks before you go. You’ll have to pay a fee.

Check if you need an international driving permit (IDP)

You might need to get an IDP to drive in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland if you have a paper driving licence. You don’t need one if you have a UK photo driving licence. You might need more than one IDP if you’re driving in more than one country.

You can check if you’ll need an IDP  for the countries where you’ll be driving on GOV.UK.

You can get an IDP at the Post Office. You’ll need:

a full valid UK driving licence - photocard or paper

a passport-sized photograph

£5.50 application fee - for each IDP

your passport if you’re taking a paper driving licence

You must be 18 or over to get an IDP.

Get a UK sticker

You’ll need either:

a number plate that includes the UK symbol

a UK sticker on the back of your vehicle - you can buy this

You must use a UK sticker if you’re going to Spain, Cyprus or Malta - even if your number plate includes the UK symbol.

Check your insurance

You’ll need the right insurance to drive abroad. Check with your insurance company that your policy covers you and how long you can drive outside the UK. You might need to pay extra to drive abroad.

Check if you need a hired vehicle certificate

If you’re taking a hired or leased vehicle abroad you’ll need to take a VE103 vehicle on hire certificate with you to show you’re allowed to drive it. 

You can get a VE103 from your rental or lease company. You can also find other organisations where you can get a VE103 on GOV.UK . You might have to pay a fee for a VE103.

If you’re hiring a car abroad

You might have to share your online licence information when you pick up the car - this is information that isn’t on your photo licence. You can get a ‘check code’ to share your driving information with someone on GOV.UK . The code is valid for 21 days.

Insurance is usually included when you hire a car, but you should check it’s enough for your needs. You can sometimes pay more for extra cover.

Travelling with your pet

If you have a UK pet passport it won’t be valid anymore. 

Your pet or assistance animal will need:

a microchip

a rabies vaccination

an animal health certificate - unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland

tapeworm treatment for dogs - if the country you’re going to requires it

Talk to your vet at least 10 days before you plan to travel for advice on what you need to do and how much it'll cost. Prices can vary between vets so it's a good idea to contact other vets to compare costs. You can also check what to do when taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad on GOV.UK .

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Page last reviewed on 01 January 2021

Travel after Brexit: How holidays to Europe have changed, from passport rules to data roaming

Three years on from our departure from the eu, uk travellers face more delays and paperwork when travelling to europe – and 2023 will bring new checks.

brexit three year anniversary travel europe eu passports pets data roaming etias visa waiver

Today is the three year anniversary of our departure from the EU . At 11pm on 31 January, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member state of the bloc. The Brexit referendum result would set in motion the start of new border rules for British passport holders travelling to the EU or Schengen Area.

Queues for passport stamps, costly paperwork when travelling with pets and mobile phone roaming fees are among the changes that were triggered by the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December, 2020. New border controls for all non-EU citizens travelling into the EU or Schengen Area will be introduced this year further altering travel to other countries in Europe from the UK.

We explain the biggest changes to travel to Europe since Brexit.

Passport issue and expiry dates

British passport holders cannot travel to an EU or Schengen Area country with a passport that was issued more than 10 years before the date they enter that country. The passport must also have at least three months of validity after the day they plan to leave.

This rule has been a cause of confusion, with some travel providers issuing incorrect information. The two conditions above are independent of one another: for example, if your passport was issued on 30 September, 2013, but has an expiry date of 30 December, 2023, and you planned to take a week-long break to Spain on 23 September, 2023, you would meet the EU’s rules.

Passport stamps (and future checks)

Since the end of the Brexit transition period in January 2021, British passport holders can only remain in the EU or Schengen Area for 90 days within every 180 days without a visa. To ensure third-country travellers are complying with this rule, they must get a passport stamp on arrival and departure from EU or Schengen Area countries. In the peak travel period last summer, Britons reported long queues at Spanish airports for non-EU passengers.

The European Commission is set to introduce its Entry/Exit System (EES) by the end of 2023 . This will replace passport stamping. Instead, biometric data will be taken from non-EU travellers. It is expected that British passport holders will have their fingerprints and photographs taken on their first visit to the EU after the system is introduced. The data could be held for up to three years under EU rules.

This year will also bring the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) . All British passport holders will be required to have an approved Etias for entry to 30 countries. There will be a €7 (£6.20) charge for applicants aged 18–70. People aged under 18 or over 70 will still need to apply but will not have to pay a fee. An Etias will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

UK passport holders will not require an Etias to visit the Republic of Ireland.

Driving rules

driving holidays france after brexit licenceidp

Britons must carry their UK driving licence while driving in the EU. UK drivers do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to visit and drive in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

However, drivers may need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway if they have a paper licence or a licence that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. An IDP costs £5.50.

Those with a UK driving licence do not need an IDP when visiting Ireland.

Since September 2021, the national identifier sticker for UK registered cars driving in the EU is UK, rather than GB. This may be incorporated into a number plate (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Cars that do not have a UK identifier incorporated in their number plate require a UK sticker. GB stickers are no longer valid.

If you’re in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate. UK drivers should carry their vehicle logbook (V5C) when taking their vehicle to the EU or a VE103 to show they’re allowed to use their hired or leased vehicle abroad.

Pet passports

It is now more expensive to travel to the EU with your pet . Britons must have an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) to take their pet to any country within the European Area. The certificate must have been issued no more than 10 days before travel.

The stipulated timing for obtaining an AHC means getting an appointment within the 10 days of travel to the EU. Plus, to travel to the EU, your pet must have been microchipped, vaccinated and have had up-to-date worming treatments – all of which will be detailed in the certificate.

AHCs must be issued by an official vet and will remain valid for a return journey within four months. The cost for a certificate can range from around £100–£300. A maximum of five pets can be added to a certificate, with a cost of around £50 for each extra animal.

There are also rules for returning to the UK from the EU with a pet. A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than five days before you arrive in Great Britain. They must also record the treatment in your pet’s passport or AHC. You will need to take details of each pet’s rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment.

See gov.uk for more information.

Health insurance

UK travellers visiting the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland must have either:

  • A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
  • A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

These must be in addition to travel insurance with healthcare cover. Healthcare systems vary between countries, and you will need to pay to have treatment in some countries. A GHIC allows you to get medically necessary healthcare treatment in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Britons with an in-date EHIC do not need to apply for a GHIC.

Both cards are valid when travelling to an EU country or, if you’re eligible, in Switzerland. You can no longer apply for a new EHIC, but applications for a GHIC are free and should be made through the NHS website .

Healthcare rules differ for visits to Spain or Ireland and if you going to live, work or study in the EU .

More on Brexit Travel

'The clock is ticking': Why new post-Brexit border rules are fraught with issues

Consumer rights

The UK retained EU passenger rights after Brexit. You can claim up to £520 in compensation if your flight has been delayed more than three hours, unless the changes were caused by an extraordinary circumstance, or if your flight has been cancelled.

These rules apply for flights departing from a UK airport and flights arriving at a UK or EU airport on a UK or EU airline.

If a flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure and the replacement flight delays a passenger’s arrival by two or more hours, they are legally entitled to compensation. The amount depends on the distance of the flight, as well as the departure and arrival times of the rescheduled flight and when the flight was cancelled.

Rules on compensation for delays and cancellations for flights to the EU are set to remain. However, there are plans to change the rules for UK domestic flights .

The proposals in the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation, for which a review ran between January 31 and March 27, would link compensation to the price of travel on UK domestic routes – and payouts could be significantly reduced.

Under the suggested changes, airline passengers could claim 25 per cent of their ticket back after an hour’s delay, 50 per cent after two hours and a full refund after three hours.

Living and working in Europe

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As outlined above, British passport holders can only stay within the EU or Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. Rules vary for Britons who had been living in an EU country before the end of the Brexit transition period.

British passport holders who wish to move to an EU country require a work permit or another type of visa to remain in the EU for more than 90 days at a time. Some countries, such as Portugal, Spain and Greece, have or are introducing visas aimed at remote workers.

Roaming charges

UK mobile operators are no longer required to guarantee surcharge-free roaming across the European Economic Area (EEA). The end of the Brexit transition period brought this change. Further protections ended on 30 June, 2022, including the daily limit on roaming costs.

Many major mobile phone networks have reintroduced roaming charges for customers travelling in the EU. The charges are sometimes only applied to newer customers.

EE, Vodafone, Voxi, Sky Mobile, Three and Tesco Mobile are among the operators to have brought back roaming fees.

Duty-free shopping

UK residents are now eligible for tax-free shopping in the EU .

The minimum spending amount required for a VAT refund varies between EU countries. To be eligible, UK travellers must prove that they bought the goods in the EU and that they plan to consume or use them in their country of residence, which must be outside of the EU.

However, UK travellers lost the right to bring as much duty-added products as they wish back from the EU. Unlimited allowances for bringing back alcohol back from the EU ended with the Brexit transition period. Now UK residents aged 18 or over are limited to the following:

  • 42 litres of beer, and
  • 18 litres of still wine (24x75cl bottles), and
  • 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling wine/fortified wine or other liqueurs (12x75cl bottles); this last allowance can be split, so for example, half the amount of spirits as well as half the amount of sparkling or fortified wine

Eurostar services

Eurostar Group recently revealed that it was withholding hundreds of seats on its trains each day to avoid delays at stations.

Trains between London and Paris were carrying 30 per cent fewer passengers, it said. Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar roup, suggested that post-Brexit border checks and levels of border staff after Covid had caused bottlenecks at stations.

The checks include the passport stamps that British passport holders require on entry and exit from the EU or Schengen Area.

Eurostar is running 14 services per day between London and Paris; in 2019, there were 18 services per day.

Most Read By Subscribers

The little-known British passport rule that could cost you your Europe holiday

  • European Union
  • Friday 21 July 2023 at 7:32pm

travelling europe with british passport

By ITV News Content Producer Elisa Menendez

A little-known post- Brexit passport rule change is leaving Brits unable to attend family weddings and holidaymakers out of pocket to the tune of hundreds - and sometimes thousands - of pounds.

Since the UK left the European Union (EU), passport rules for British visitors have tightened up.

But many travellers may still be unaware of the fine-print, and find themselves surprised to be turned away at boarding gates.

Many travellers are aware of the rule that their passport must be valid for at least three months after the date they intend to return home.

But British passport-holders may be unaware of the rule that in order to enter any EU country, their passport validity must not exceed 10 years. Many Brits will have older passports that are valid for up to 10 years and nine months, meaning they could be unwittingly attempting to travel using invalid documents.

With the school summer holidays starting this week, travel experts and business owners are advising travellers to familiarise themselves with the rules and check their passports are valid.

'Get that girl she can't fly'

London-based Anna told ITV News how she went through all the relevant security checks at Luton Airport before she was turned away in the airplane tunnel, seconds before she was about to board her flight.

Anna, who was flying to Croatia on a family holiday earlier in July, had checked the online government guidance in advance and read she needed a minimum of three months left on her passport.

She had seven months to go until the expiry date, so thought she was travelling well within the guidelines.

"Everything was going well. I'd gone through security, I've had my passport checked there, I've gone into departures and I'm boarding," Anna recalled.

"I'm in that tunnel between the boarding gate and the plane, and they said 'get that girl she can't fly'.

"I thought, 'what is happening, am I being arrested?'"

She was told by airline staff her passport had expired and was refused entry to the plane.

"They just escorted me and said 'we're taking your suitcase off the plane, you have to wait three hours and you'll be able to get it'," she said.

"It felt like a dream. It was madness. I couldn't understand what was going on for ages because no one was helping me."

Eventually, after going to the airline's customer service desk and speaking to several members of staff, she was informed her passport was issued 10 years and seven months earlier, meaning she didn't meet the EU requirements to enter Croatia.

"The fact I'd been through security already and my passport had been checked - it's an absolute joke," she added.

Anna headed home and booked the earliest emergency passport appointment she could find, which was three days later in Belfast. After flying to Northern Ireland and back, she was finally able to meet her family in Croatia, five days into the holiday.

"That's just because I was willing to spend the money. A lot of people who aren't in privileged positions wouldn't be able to do so," she pointed out.

Anna has now been left out of pocket to the tune of around £500 after losing her first flight to Croatia, paying for a return flight to Belfast, as well as an overnight stay in the city, an emergency passport appointment and a new flight to Croatia. She cannot get any compensation.

The UK Foreign Office told ITV News its online travel advice sets out the passport requirements for entering the EU - but Anna said its guidelines aren't clear enough.

She placed the blame on the government and airlines for the gap in public knowledge.

"The airline websites and apps should be able to tell you if your passport is valid when you check in online and enter your passport details, that's where they should flag it," she said, adding that a man in front of her in the boarding queue was also stopped for the same reason.

"It's a massive problem. People are getting really caught out."

Andy Hooper, a holiday let business owner in the Dordogne, south west France, has issued a warning to customers to urgently check their passports after some guests fell victim to what he described as the "passport gotcha".

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The business owner - who has run Cottages de Garrigue with partner Neil since 2016 - said since opening for the season in May, two guests have already been forced to miss out on loved ones' weddings.

This week, the father of a groom found out while boarding his flight that his passport was invalid and was turned away by airline staff. He missed his son's wedding, said Andy.

Weeks before, a best man ready to deliver a speech at his friend's wedding was also turned away before boarding his flight. He too couldn't attend the ceremony.

"It's a horrible, horrible thing to happen... holidays are very emotive," Andy said.

"My partner and I talk to our guests and we have over 200 a year... nobody knows about this passport 'gotcha'," he added. "They also don't know that they're being stamped and they're entering the EU on a 90-day visa. They are totally oblivious.

"It's pure luck that more people aren't turned away. It'll only get worse because everybody's passports are getting older."

Andy is also concerned this will start financially affecting his business if people have to cancel full cottage rentals. He also worries more people may begin ditching EU countries, like France, as holiday destinations, in order to get the most out of their passports.

Andy added: "My anger is against the UK Government. They are just letting this ride out. The government isn't talking about it because it's a direct casualty of Brexit."

CEO of TravelSupermarket, Richard Singer, told ITV News: “We are worried that many people are still not aware of the post-Brexit 10-year passport rule.

"You need to check your passport is no older than 10 years old when you travel to the EU, otherwise you could be turned away. It’s an easy thing to miss and not everyone is affected, and those who are, will be impacted at different dates, depending on when your passport was issued.”

What is the 10-year passport rule?

When the UK was a member of the European Union, British passports remained valid up to and including their expiry date for travel to other EU countries.

But post-Brexit, British passport-holders wishing to travel to EU countries in the Schengen Area are treated as non-EU nationals. 

As such, they must meet three key requirements, as outlined on the EU's  Your Europe website :

Passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of travel.

The passport must be valid for at least three months after the day the traveller plans to depart the EU.

British travellers do not need a visa for short stays, however, those staying in the EU or the Schengen area for more than 90 days in a 180-day period must apply for a visa .

Aren't all passports only valid for 10 years?

No. A past UK policy allowed Brits to claim credit on "unspent" time when renewing passports.

This meant people could be issued with a passport that was valid for up to 10 years and nine months.

People who took advantage of this policy could now find themselves caught out if they try to travel more than 10 years after their passport was first issued.

How do I find out if my passport is valid?

Instead of checking only the expiry date, UK passports holders are advised to look at the "issue date" as well as the expiry to find out if their passport is valid.

It may appear that your passport is within date but if it hasn't been issued in the past 10 years you could be stopped from boarding your plane.

According to the government's website, for some Schengen countries, once the three-months-remaining rule is deducted, a passport needs to have been issued no more than nine years and nine months ago.

To be on the safe side, it's best to apply to renew your passport before it is nine years and nine months old.

You should allow up to 10 weeks to receive your passport, so you should apply for it at least 10 weeks before you're due to travel.

Will holiday insurance cover me if I find out my passport is invalid?

Insurance companies and tour providers will not cover passengers who cannot make their trip due to their passport being invalid - even if they were unaware of the 10-year passport rule, according to TravelSupermarket.

"If, for whatever reason, you still don’t have your application by your departure date, unfortunately you can’t claim for flight or other holiday costs on your travel insurance," the travel company told ITV News.

"Neither can you claim compensation from the Home Office. And airlines and tour operators are equally unsympathetic about out-of-date documents, so you’re highly unlikely to receive anything from them.

"Remember: it’s your responsibility to ensure your passport is up to date. With travellers rushing to sort out their passports in time for summer, it makes good sense to apply as early as possible to renew your documentation."

An FCDO spokesperson said: "Following the end of the transition period, we ran a campaign to help British travellers prepare for changes when visiting Europe, including on passport rules.

“FCDO online travel advice for EU countries sets out the requirements and is kept under constant review to ensure British travellers have accurate information to help plan their trip."

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‘I was in tears’: Briton with valid passport barred from flight over Brexit rules

Experts say it is vital to check you meet EU requirements, or you could risk losing your holiday

  • Why did I have to fly to Belfast to get a new UK passport?

Travellers who have not used their passport for a while were this week being urged to dig it out and check it conforms to the post-Brexit rules for entering the EU – because if it doesn’t, you will almost certainly be denied boarding this summer.

Despite previous warnings in Guardian Money and some other publicity, UK travellers trying to enter the Schengen zone are being turned away on a daily basis by airline staff at boarding gates – in most cases because their UK passport was issued more than 10 years ago.

Rosi Simpson, a teacher from Brighton, is one of the latest to be caught up in the confusion. She says she was left “mortified and in tears” after easyJet staff refused to allow her to board a flight to Paris to see her son, who is studying there, because her UK passport had been issued 10 years and one day previously.

“I had no idea of the 10-year rule,” she says. “I’d checked the expiry date, and my passport had eight months remaining. What happened at the boarding gate was absolutely awful. I lost the cost of the flight and the accommodation I’d booked – I’d been so looking forward to seeing my son. What I don’t understand is why this [rule change] hasn’t had more publicity – an information campaign. I wasn’t the only one who this had happened to at the airport that day,” she says.

Eiffel Tower and River Seine at sunrise, Paris, France

In terms of flights and ferries to mainland Europe, passengers will also be denied boarding if their passport expires less than three months after their return date. Previously, it was thought that UK travellers needed at least six months left, although the EU has since clarified the three-month requirement.

Prior to Brexit, UK passport holders could travel in and out of the EU as long as they held a valid passport, even one that expired the day after their return.

The more onerous rules, which came into effect in 2021, apply to UK passport holders travelling to any EU country (except Ireland), plus the others in the Schengen zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Switzerland.

The “over 10-year” problem came about because, for many years, those renewing their passport before the previous one expired were able to add any remaining time left. Prior to September 2018, you could have up to nine months added to the replacement’s 10-year length – meaning their passport could be valid for as long as 10 years and nine months.

Passengers may look at their passport, see that it does not expire until well after their return, and conclude that all is well. However, they need to check the date of issue. If the passport will be more than 10 years old on the day of entry, they will not be allowed in.

The change has caught out a great many passengers who were unaware of the change. Last year, Guardian Money featured the case of Pat Cerely and her husband, Peter, who were refused permission to board their plane to Madeira on the grounds that Pat’s passport was not valid – even though it had another nine months remaining.

Every day, others are falling foul of the rule – and if it happens to you, it can be a financial disaster. Travel insurers will not pay out for a lost holiday if you tried to travel with an invalid passport.

Jo Rhodes, the deputy travel editor at Which?, says: “Recently, some travellers have been caught out by EU passport rules, meaning they haven’t been able to go on holiday as planned.

“Your passport must have been issued in the past 10 years at the time of entering the EU. Legally, you’re also required to have at least three months left on your passport at the time you plan on exiting the EU. If you have a holiday planned this summer, check your passport now to make sure it meets all the requirements for your destination, so you don’t risk being turned away at the airport.”

She says Which? advises travelling with at least six months’ validity “to be on the safe side”.

She adds: “Despite the legal requirement being three months, UK travellers are strongly advised by the European Commission and the UK government to have no less than six months on the end of their passports. This is because some border guards believe that people tend to stay in the EU for longer than they say and so they’re reluctant to grant you entry if you have less than six months.”

Countries such as Romania, which is in Europe but outside the Schengen zone, stipulate that UK passport holders are required to have at least six months on their passports to enter the country. It is by no means alone.

A Passport Office

To add extra excitement to the story, Passport Office workers, who process applications, are approaching the end of a five-week strike. It is thought that up to a quarter of the agency’s 4,000 employees are not in work as normal.

However, while the Passport Office says users should currently allow 10 weeks for their application to be processed , most applications are being sorted out a lot more quickly than that. The 10-week advice includes every kind of application, including those for new passports or where the renewal requires a change of name after a marriage or similar.

If you have a straightforward renewal of an existing passport and your details are all the same – name and address and so on – then people are reporting getting their replacements in days rather than weeks.

The most recent postings on the Passportwaitingtime.co.uk website – which tells you how long it is likely to take to get your UK passport – suggested that simple adult renewals were being processed in an average of 12 days, and often more quickly than that. Adult first passport applications were typically being processed in 17 days (29 days with an interview) while one-week fast-track applications were being dealt with in 5.7 days, it said this week.

Guardian Money has heard similar reports. The online process is the quickest and cheapest way to apply.

A Passport Office spokesperson told us it “remains well positioned to deal with this industrial action, and there is no change in our guidance … People are receiving their passports in good time, with 99.7% of applications processed within the published 10-week timeframe.”

The final sting in the tail is that the passport fees all rose for the first time in five years in February. The fee for a standard online application made from within the UK rose from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults, and from £49 to £53.50 for children. Postal applications went up from £85 to £93 for adults and from £58.50 to £64 for children. If you were born on or before 2 September 1929, it is free.

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UK Passport: When Travelling to Europe

travelling europe with british passport

British holidaymakers no longer need to show proof of full vaccination or a negative test to visit most of the EU but those planning to travel to the EU should always check their passport validity before heading to the airport.

With so many stories of holidaymakers being turned away from airports due to passport concerns, here is what holidaymakers need to know about their passports.

Related articles:

  • EU Proposes To Digital Schengen Visa Process
  • UK Holidaymakers: What You Need To Know When Travelling To Spain in 2022
  • Travel Chaos: Strikes Likely to Disrupt Holiday Plans
  • London’s Heathrow Caps Number Passengers to Ease Disruptions
  • Venice Introduces Tourist Entry Fee
  • Contactless Digital Border: Electronic Travel Authorisation to Enter the UK

What UK Passport Holders Should Know

Before Brexit, British holidaymakers could travel up to and including the expiry date on their passports. But after Brexit, EU regulations now classify UK citizens as ‘third country nationals,’ meaning the rules have changed.

Holidaymakers might assume that their passport is valid up to the expiry date. But this isn’t always the case.

British passport holders should ensure they pass the following criteria before planning their trip to the EU

  • passport issued within the previous 10 years.
  • passport is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the EU country you are visiting 

These requirements apply to the whole Schengen area, which includes most EU countries plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.

Though British citizens can enter the Schengen area with three months of validity on their passports, the UK government recommends that they have six months of validity.

UK Passport Renewal

UK passport is edging close to the expiry date and should be renewed to avoid the risk of being turned away from the airport.

The UK Home office estimates that it currently takes roughly 10 weeks to get a new passport.

However, unprecedented demand and huge backlogs mean even longer wait times. For those planning a trip outside the UK, they need to ensure their passport is valid for travel.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below.

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If you need help with a  US visa , a  UK Visa , or a  visa to Europe , including help with appointment booking obligations,  IaM  can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at  IaM .

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The World Was Here First

A Guide To Travelling With Two Passports

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

I acquired dual citizenship a couple of years ago which meant that recently I started travelling with two passports.

And while I’ve been clear for a very long time about the benefits of obtaining dual citizenship and the flexibility that it allows me, it was only until about a day before my long trip through the Balkans that I realised I actually had no idea about the practicalities of having a second citizenship. I had no idea which passport I should use when booking a flight, checking in or passing through immigration.

So after doing some frantic last-minute research, I went to the airport and showed my foreign passport. What ensued was fifteen minutes of confusion when I showed the airline check-in in Australia my foreign passport. The concierge was left whispering to other staff before finally asking me how I had entered Australia and whether I had a visa to stay in the country.

When I meekly showed him my Australian passport, he shook his head at me like I was an idiot and proceeded to tell me, “In Australia, ALWAYS show your Australian passport.”

I’m sure that I’m not the only one that has experienced confusion or uncertainty as to how to travel with two passports from different countries so I’ve created this step by step guide to ensure that you know exactly which passport to use at each stage of travelling!

Disclaimer: I am not an immigration lawyer and this article is only meant to be used as a guide to travelling with 2 passports based on my own experience. I recommend speaking to the relevant embassy if you want more information on your specific situation. 

Table of Contents

A Guide For Travelling With Two Passports

The below outline which of your two passports to use at each stage of travelling.

1. Booking your flight

When booking your flight, airlines will request you enter your passport information as part of the booking process. For countries where you are required to pass through immigration before departing, you should typically enter the details of the passport which you are using in the country of departure.

For example, as an Australian, I will always use my Australian passport when booking a flight out of Australia.

Apart from travelling from Australia, I have generally found that it doesn’t matter which passport you use to book your flight, particularly if you don’t pass through immigration when exiting the country. For example, in the United Kingdom or the USA, there is no immigration when exiting the country and airlines don’t seem to be concerned with your visa status in the departure country.

In countries that don’t recognise dual citizenship, it would be advisable to book your flight on the passport which you are legally using in the country.

Travelling with two passports can be tricky!

2. Checking in at the airport

Whichever passport you have used to book your flight is the same one that you should show when you check in at the airport. It is, however, worth making sure that you add both passports to your packing list as an airline might request to see proof of onward travel.

For example, if I book a one-way flight to Europe, the airline might request to see a return flight as if you’re not a dual citizen they want to make sure you’re not planning on illegally overstaying your visa.

By showing my European passport it gives the airline evidence that I can stay in Europe without any additional visas.

3. Immigration at your departure airport

The passport that you have used to enter the country is the same one you should be showing immigration when leaving the country.

4. Immigration at your arrival airport

Whichever passport allows you the most hassle-free stay is the one you should show when arriving at your destination. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using one passport to exit a country and then entering on another passport.

Also, it’s worth remembering that most countries require you to use the passport of that country if you are a citizen. So if I’m entering Australia, I should enter on my Australian passport rather than obtaining a visa on my European passport.

Whenever planning a trip, a great website I use is the Compare feature on PassportIndex.Org  for deciding which passport to enter with at my destination.

It allows you to line up different passports next to each other and see how the visa requirements vary for every country around the world. This is a fantastic way to save money and time and ensure that you don’t pay any unnecessary visa fees!

travelling with two passports

Example Scenarios when Travelling with Multiple Passports

Example 1 – australian and uk dual citizen travelling from sydney to london..

1. Booking your flight – Australian passport

2. Checking in at the airport – Australian passport

3. Immigration at your departure airport – Australian passport

4. Immigration at your arrival airport – British passport

Example 2 – US and EU citizen travelling from Paris to Istanbul.

1. Booking your flight – EU passport

2. Checking in at the airport – EU passport

3. Immigration at your departure airport – EU passport

4. Immigration at your arrival airport – as Americans require an eVisa to enter Turkey but EU citizens can enter visa-free, you should use your EU passport.

Can you have Two Passports?

Citizenship law varies from country to country so your ability to acquire two different passports will depend on the specific laws of the two countries of which you wish to have passports.

For example, certain countries like the US, UK, France, Australia, Canada and Switzerland put no restrictions on dual citizenship and you are able to acquire multiple passports as long as it’s allowed by your second country of citizenship.

Some countries put restrictions on your ability to acquire dual citizenship and have quite complex laws to do with how they recognise dual citizenship.

For example, there are no restrictions for Spanish citizens if acquiring dual citizenship with certain Latin American countries but there are restrictions with other countries. In Germany, there are certain situations where citizens will have to choose between nationalities by a certain age. In Pakistan, dual citizenship is only recognised with certain countries.

Other countries such as China and India don’t recognise dual citizenship at all.

Dual citizenship laws are constantly changing and it’s important to keep up to date if you are a dual citizen or wish to acquire citizenship of a particular country. It’s also important to remember that, when travelling, if a country doesn’t recognise dual citizenship then you might not be able to receive embassy assistance if you have entered that particular country on your other passport.

I, therefore, recommend that travellers consider carefully which passport to use, particularly when travelling in more volatile countries.

travelling europe with british passport

Travelling with Two Passports with Different Names

In some situations, different countries might issue you passports with different names due to how the name has been translated or a country wanting to use their native language version of your name.

The first thing to do is to see whether the country that is issuing you your passport can add your regular name as a translated version on the page opposite where your main details are located. This will help prove that the passports have the same identity if you ever need to.

When booking your flight, you should ensure you enter the name as it appears in the passport for which you are purchasing and checking into your flight. This will ensure that when you check in and show your passport, the records match up to when you bought the ticket.

In my experience, it’s not a problem to then enter your destination country with your other passport (even if it has a different name) as immigration isn’t checking details against the airline’s manifest.

As always, try to make sure you travel with both passports in case there are any misunderstandings!

Is Travelling with Two Passports Illegal?

For many people there is nothing illegal about having two passports, however, some countries don’t allow or recognise dual citizenship so you need to look into each country’s specific laws.

For citizens of countries such as the USA, Canada, UK & Australia it is common for many citizens to get a second passport from another country.

Other Things to Consider For Dual Citizens

As previously mentioned, I would also recommend taking both passports with you if you are a dual citizen even if you think you’ll only have the need for one of them. It could be helpful for proving onward travel or in the worst-case scenario having two embassies you could contact should there be an emergency when travelling.

Make sure to also  buy a passport holder that allows you to carry two passports! Many passport holders are unfortunately only designed for people with a single passport which can increase the likelihood of you misplacing your other passport!

Before setting off on any trip, are you considering travel insurance? World Nomads offers flexible and simple travel insurance policies with coverage for more than 150 activities that you can buy or extend while on the road.

Another option if you’re looking to save money is SafetyWing which offers travel medical insurance and is one of the most affordable providers on the market. Click here to get a quote from SafetyWing and also check out our detailed review of their service.

Travelling with two passports is a privilege for people fortunate enough to be able to do so. Hopefully, this guide clears up any confusion as to which passport you should use at different stages of travelling! 

Do you have two passports from different countries? What issues have you encountered on the road with a second citizenship? Let us know in the comments below! 

travelling europe with british passport

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About Michael Rozenblit

Michael is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Both solo and with his partner, Maggie, he has travelled to over 50 countries across the globe and has a particular affinity for the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He’s lived in numerous countries worldwide but currently resides in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Read more about Michael

I have old & new passport but my employment visa is issued by old passport number so will i be able to clear the emmigration department?

Hi Rajesh, I suggest you contact the visa department for the country that issued you your visa and ask them. 🙂

I’m curious about traveling on dual passports. I’ll be going from Canada to Georgia with British/Canadian. I was intending to use my Canadian passport to get to Georgia. But I’ve decided to visit my parents in Britain on the way back to Canada. I’ve been told I must use my Canadian passport for Canada and I must use my British passport for Britain. The airline accepts only one passport. I’ve also been warned by relatives that I shouldn’t use my Canadian passport in Georgia, I should use my British because allegedly, if there’s a problem, Britain wouldn’t aid me if I’m not using a British passport.

Who/what to believe? I’ve been getting a lot of conflicting information.

You’re right that you should use your Canadian passport in Canada and British passport in the UK. Even if put the Canadian passport on your airline ticket then isn’t anything stopping you from giving immigration your British passport when you land.

I would enter Georgia on whichever passport you feel most comfortable on. I don’t think either countries require a visa for Georgia so if it puts your relatives at ease then you can enter using your British passport 🙂

I’m sorry if this isn’t correct,

But isn’t it the other way around? For example, if I am flying from Paris to New York and I am a dual citizen of France and the United States, I will book the flight on the number of my US passport and show it at the Check In, and then when I arrive at the exit immigration I will show them my French passport?

In my experience, the airline’s systems can be linked to visa systems so if you book a flight out on a passport which hasn’t entered the country it might raise some flags when you check in. As long as you have both passports with you I don’t think it should be an issue either way when you check in.

Yes. The airline makes a list of the passengers and sends it to the DESTINATION immigration. It is also responsible for ensuring that all passengers have the right VISA to enter the country they are flying to. So… in you case at he check-in you show the US passport. As you exit Paris immigration you show the French passport and at your destination you show again the US passport.

my daughter has dual citizenship, British and filipino. i had to cancel her flight to uk as she could not find her dual citizenship certificate and her philippine passport is expired. did i do the right thing or i should have just let her travel?

She would need a valid passport to enter the UK. I think given she’s British she needs to enter on her British passport however it’s best to check with immigration 🙂

Im a japanese and filipino citizen. Im flying to japan using my japanese passport. Is that okay? Or i should have use my philippine passport flying to japan?

Usually, if you’re a citizen of a country, you need enter on the passport of that country. I assume it’ll be the same situation for Japan 🙂

Use your japanese passport but show your fil passport to phil immigration as well. When u reached japan you dont need to show you fil. Passport.

I am a dual citizen (Canada/United States) living in the US and will be driving up to Canada to visit family before flying from Toronto to Scotland. I will be travelling with my girlfriend, she is a US citizen. I enter Canada with my Canadian passport and she with her US passport. The part I’m not sure of, is leaving Canada and entering Scotland, and then leaving Scotland and entering Canada. I was planning on travelling on my Canadian passport and just going through the other line (for non-citizens) with my girlfriend when we returned to Canada. Is this the proper plan or should I be doing something else?

Hi Kevin! I don’t think it matters whether you use your Canadian or US passport in the UK (I assume both have visa free entry!) I’m not sure how the lines work in Canada but in other countries the citizen’s line is faster however you can use any line.

I am a dual citizen (Hong Kong SAR/British Citizen) living in the Hong Kong SAR and will be flying up to Russia for traveling with a Transit in United Kingdom (London). I enter United Kingdom with my British passport, which requires Visa for entering Russia, whereas HKSAR Passport is Visa-free to enter Russia for 14 Days. How should I do for checking in the following flights? 1. Hong Kong – London 2. London – St.Petersburg 3. Moscow – London 4. London – Hong Kong Info: Hong Kong immigration requires Hong Kong Identity cards (a prerequisite for holding HKSAR passport, with Right of Abode in Hong Kong) to enter / depart Hong Kong Also, can a through check-in at Hong Kong to be performed with 2 passports for Flights 1 & 2?

Hi Derek, the key thing is make sure that you use the right passport when clearing immigration in each country. So when entering the UK, use your British passport and then when entering Russia use your Hong Kong passport etc.

For Flight 1, i think you should check in with your HK passport and then clear immigration in London with your British passport. Flight 2 is tricky as you should probably check in with your British passport as you’re in London however they will require proof that you can legally enter Russia (I would clarify with the airline that showing the HK passport is sufficient)

For Flight 3, check in with your HK passport and clear immigration in London with your British passport. For flight 4, check in with your British passport and clear immigration in HK with your HK passport.

Hi Michael,

Very useful article. My son is a dual citizen (Canada/France) leaving in the US on a H4 visa. His Canadian passport, which is tied to his US visa, is expired so we sent it to Canada for a new passport. We need to travel soon to France, but we have not yet received his old and new Canadian passports. We are planning to leave the US and enter France with his French passport but I’m worried that this will raise flag at check-in since we never enter US on his French passport. While in France, we are planning to get old and new Canadian passport send to us, so he can re-enter US visa the Canadian passport that contains the visa. Any feedback on this issue? Thanks

Hi Patrick, I haven’t travelled in the US extensively, however, I imagine you could have problems leaving the country if you can’t prove that you legally entered the US and I wouldn’t suggest risking it. Can you pay extra to have your Canadian passport sent back quicker?

Thanks for the reply Michael. We got lucky since we just received his Canadian passports.

My sister who lives in Australia was going on holiday to Canada, she has dual nationality, Australia/United Kingdom. When she arrived at the airport she was told by the Canadian airline that she had to have both passports with her. She couldn’t see any reason why she would want her British passport with her and said so. She was then told that she would have to go home and get it, by this time she was getting upset as she lives 1 and a half hours from the airport. Eventually they got a more senior person and agreed to let her just have her Australian passport,she was in tears as she was going on a cruise and coach trip which had cost a lot of money. Surely this cannot be correct and if it is it is ridiculous.

Sorry to hear your sister had to go through that! I agree that technically there is no need for airlines to see both passports however I usually recommend travelling with both passports as airlines can make their own rules on what ID is required. Glad to hear it worked out in the end!

I’m a dual citizen of Australia/UK (I’m living in Australia) and wanting to go to Hong Kong for a holiday. I will of course leave and return to Australia on an Australian passport but am I able to enter and leave HK on a British passport? Also, with regards to airlines wanting passport details, which passport should I give them? When I check in my luggage, do I show them the passport that I entered on the airline/travel website?

Hi Declan, thanks for your comment! When flying out of Australia as an AU citizen, you should use your Australian passport on your airline ticket & when checking in your luggage. When entering HK just show immigration your British passport if you want to enter as a UK citizen.

Hi Michael! Im planning on traveling to Russia from the US through Italy and spend 1-2 days there. I am a bit confused about which passport I should use to purchase tickets and to show at the customs. I have dual citizenship – Russian/American. I know that with the US passport you don’t need a visa to Italy but with Russian you do. Should I use my American passport to purchase tickets? Will I have any issues entering and leaving Russia if my tickets were purchased using the American passport? Thank you.

Hi Nadya, I suggest contacting the airline to confirm that it will be okay. My gut says that you should be able to book on your US passport and then just show your Russian passport to the airline if they require proof of you being able to enter Russia. From an immigration perspective, just make sure to show your Russian passport in Russia.

I’m currently traveling and arrived in Spain yesterday. I have dual citizenship (US and Spain). I entered the frequent flyer number which saved the details of my Spanish passport on my reservation for my US departure. Will I need a visa and/or return flight when leaving Spain back to US?

Hi Bianca, you need to enter the US on your US passport (which you should show to immigration) In terms of boarding your flight the airline should let you board if you show your US passport as proof that you can enter the US. If you’re worried, I suggest calling the airline to confirm that this will be fine for them. 🙂

Thanks for the interesting article. I will be returning to live in South Africa from the UK as I hold dual citizenship by birth and parents. My question is – do I need to apply for a SA passport or is it fine to stick with one I.e. my British Passport…? Thanks in advance.

Hi Amy, I think you will need your SA passport to re-enter South Africa. Otherwise, when you try to enter on your British passport you will only be able to stay for a limited amount of time.

I have a French passport and a Philippine Passport. Now, my Philippine passport is about to expire and I should renew it as soon as possible. I noticed that in the renewal there’s an option to declare I have another passport, But my father said I should not declare it because I’ll only be paying taxes and it doesn’t change anything. What are the advantages/disadvantages of declaring it? Also, is it illegal to not declare it?

P.S. The french embassy don’t mind that I have another passport and they did not ask me when getting french passport.

Hi Ger, Unfortunately I don’t know the details about Philippines tax system or their rules about dual citizenship. Maybe consider contacting a taxation lawyer?

I have a conundrum: I have a Chilean and a British passport. I plan an overland trip to Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. I will fly to Georgia, ( which does not require a visa from Brits ) and then travel overland to Russia. Russian charges Brits £140 for a Visa, but does not charge Chilean passport holders any visa charge ( only an admin fee ). Ukraine does not require a visa from a Brit. Nor does Romania….my next stop. The I will fly back to UK from Romania. Can anyone out there tell me in simple steps, the easiest and hassle free way of doing the trip!

Hi Tim, I would just show whichever passport you want to use in each country when you enter it. Overland border crossings will have two checkpoints so I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use your UK passport in Georgia, Ukraine & Romania and then enter Russia on your Chilean passport.

Michael – I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Its as I thought. As you say, in theory, each crossing has an EXIT and an ENTRY – with a little ‘no-mans land ‘ in between! I show the UK passport as I leave Georgia, and show the Chilean one as I enter Russia. And yet…..! When I entered Montenegro from Croatia last year, at a tiny little border crossing near the sea, there was only one person….I guess what his left hand did was unknown to what his right hand did!! He was managing both exits from Croatia and entries to Montenegro! Fingers crossed it works…. PS – I enjoy your site and blog.

No problem Tim and thanks for reading! Funnily enough, the same thing has happened to me in the Balkans as well 🙂

Hopefully it all goes smoothly – I’d be surprised if Russia doesn’t have its own border guards given they have very different visa requirements to its neighbours!

Just a short note about dual passports. I have a Chilean passport…and my name in that is the Hispanicised version of the name in my UK passport. The UK has recently – 2017 – decreed that anyone with multiple ID’s or passports, is obliged to ensure the next time they renew their UK passport, that the names in ALL these documents are the same. So, in my case, I will be obliged to change the names in one of my passports….by deed poll its easy enough in the UK, but in Chile it would present a bureaucratic nightmare. Maybe other countries don’t have this policy.

Thanks for sharing! I also have different versions of my name in both passports however my second passport has a translation that matches my Australian name on the page opposite the photo ID. Maybe see if that’s possible to do for one of your passports?

Ha, that’s interesting. In my case, the UK will in ‘ exceptional circumstances ‘ allow the use of the phrase ‘ also known as ‘ , followed by the alias. But my circumstance is apparently unexceptional!

Hi Michael! I’m a Chinese citizen currently studying in the UK on a student visa. I’m planning a trip to Switzerland soon. I’m wondering whether I could leave England with my New Zealand passport (Otherwise, I would have to get a Schengen visa for my Chinese passport in the UK) and re-enter England with my Chinese passport . There is no departing immigration in airports in England so the only place I can show my passport is at the airline check-in. Do I have to show both passports at the airline check-in?

Or is there any way I could travel with both passports? Thank you so much!

Hi Julia! I don’t see any problem with this – even if there is UK immigration, you can show your UK visa when leaving and then enter Switzerland on your NZ passport. I would keep both passports with you when travelling so you can prove entry and exit.

What happens when you have two passports and one of the countries does not allow double citizenship while re-entaring the country which does not allow double citizenship and you do not have a stamp because on the other side you used your other passport…

Good question! Theoretically it shouldn’t matter but who knows how certain border guards would react. Is there anyway you can avoid this situation by using the same passport in both countries?

Good question! Theoretically, it shouldn’t matter but who knows how certain border guards would react. Is there any way you can avoid this situation by using the same passport in both countries?

Unfortunately not. 🙁 Dual citizenship should not be such a contentious issue, should it?! At least not when the travel documents are valid and the individuals have no criminal records.

It really shouldn’t! Hopefully, it doesn’t cause any issues as a lot of the time countries don’t necessarily care about exit stamps from the previous country unless it’s a political issue.

Hi there Have you heard any issues with using dual citizenship to bypass the 90/180 rule for staying in a country? Example using British passport and visa to arrive and stay 90 days. Leaving country, then returning in a week using USA passport with a different visa and passport # I can’t imagine they could match by name and DOB at the border

Hi Charles! I haven’t done this before – I think theoretically it’s possible but countries with more advanced computer systems might be able to match up your passports based on previous travels (e.g. if you’ve used one passport to exit a country and the next country using your other passport).

The problem is that most developed countries these days scan e-passports into a central database and link them with biometric data (from the passport photo and/or fingerprints) so they would know you were the same person with different passports and so were overstaying.

Hi, Thank you for the wonderful explanation with regards to dual nationality travel. I have some doubts to be cleared, please help me if you can.

I am a holder of Indian Passport and a Portuguese Passport, and I am currently residing in U.A.E on work visa on my Indian passport, and since my Visa is getting over the end of this month, I am planning to travel to UK directly from U.A.E with my Portuguese passport. (For UK – Visa free travel for Portuguese & Visa required for Indian Passport) Can I do the same without any problems?

If yes then under what passport should I book my ticket?

Also, what passport should I show to the respective Immigration and the airline?

Any guidance will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Mufeed, this shouldn’t be a problem! When you leave the UAE, show immigration your Indian passport and when you arrive in the UK, show immigration your Portuguese passport.

In my experience, you can book your ticket under either passport as long as you have both passports with you when travelling and can show proof to the airline that you can enter your destination country legally. Some airlines might have slightly different processes (e.g. their system linked to visas records) though so it might be best to contact the airline and confirm with them.

Hi there, I have dual nationality, Israel and Poland. I live in the UK on my Polish passport which I sent to the DVLA to get my driving license sorted. I booked a trip to France and only have my Israeli passport now. I’m trying to figure out if I’m going to have any problems leaving England with a different passport from the one I entered with. Thank you so much for your help.

Hi Elita, You might raise some flags when leaving (many airports in UK you don’t actually go through immigration though!) however the bigger issue will be returning to the UK as you don’t have your Polish passport which is what you’re usually to legally live in the UK. I would suggest trying to get your Polish passport back before leaving 🙂

Thank you for the great information! I am a dual citizen of US/Canada and always travel with both passports. However, since I live in the US, I used my US passport to enter Europe about 2 months ago. Now that I’m here, I discovered I was eligible to apply for a Working Holiday visa to Germany with my Canadian passport, which means I can stay in Germany for a whole year. However, I am now concerned about my eventual flight back to the US, as I used it to check into Europe. If I use my US passport to leave, they will think I have illegally overstayed my 90 days, but if I use my Canadian, I will not have a record of entering (or of exiting on my US). Any advice you can offer, or direction to point me in would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Julia! You should exit the Schengen area before your current tourist visa expires on your US passport. Then re-enter Germany/Schengen Area on your Canadian passport with the working holiday visa. 🙂

Hi Michael, thanks for your response! Does that mean a full on flight back to the US? My concern is if I exit Schengen (London, etc.) then fly back into Europe with my Canadian passport, won’t my US passport still be “in” London?

You don’t need to return to the US – anywhere outside of the Schengen is fine! So if you fly to London, just show UK immigration your Canadian passport and that means you’ll enter as a Canadian rather than US citizen.

Sorry for the double post… ok, just to be clear, I am currently in Slovakia. I can get a cheap flight to London from Vienna, so I fly to London and I show my US passport to enter London. Then when I fly back to Germany from London, I show the exit border in london my US passport, which will officially “log me out” of London. Then when I enter Germany, I show them my Canadian Passport with the new Visa?

Yes that would work! Alternatively you could also enter London on your Canadian passport when you exit the Schengen the first time 🙂

Have you heard of anyone running into problems while doing this because they have two different names on their passports. The two different languages on a Russian and Yemeni passport mean that my name is quite different and one has my fathers surname and one has my mothers surname. Do you think this would cause problems with the systems being linked?

The names in my two passports also differ – I think the only issue is that if you book your plane ticket with one passport and then try to check in with your other passport, the airline won’t recognise your ticket. From an immigration perspective, it doesn’t really matter as you only ever show one passport to the border guard.

Hi, I have two passports US and Indonesian. I’m currently studying in Paris and am wondering which way is best if I want to travel to London (Indonesians need a visa).

If you don’t need a visa for one of your passports then it’ll be a lot less hassle to travel to London on your US passport 🙂

I’m dual citizen both Somalia and Uganda, am planning to go to Somalia which passport do I use and which one do I show the airliner

Hi Zakaria! I’m not across the specific rules for Somalia but most countries require you to enter on that country’s passport if you are a citizen. I suggest contacting the embassy to confirm the rules for your specific situation.

Thanks for your great article Michael!

I’m a dual Australian/British citizen with two passports – the latter currently (!) marked EU. I live in Australia.

I understand about leaving and entering Australia on my Oz passport.

I’m doing a round trip soon: ex Oz, to Germany, Italy, the U.K. (first visit in 15 years) then back to Australia.

I plan to show my EU passport on arrival in Berlin and so on.

Can I enter/depart the U.K. on my British passport back to Australia when the airline (Etihad) has my Oz passport details registered? I’m unsure which passport to show at Etihad check in and immigration at Heathrow?

Hi Lisa – thanks for your comment! You shouldn’t have any problems if you enter the UK with your British passport. When checking into your flight, you should show whichever passport you’ve booked your ticket with. At Heathrow, you don’t actually pass through immigration so you won’t have to worry about that.

I’ve travelled back to Australia before from the UK booking with my Australian passport despite living here on my EU passport and haven’t had any problems! 🙂

Hello , it’s still all confusing to me about going home for a visit To NZ. I was born in NZ and immigrated to US and became a citizen in 1995. I let my NZ passport expire . I got a new one when I was there for s visit around 2010 . I’ve always gone home on US and was told once come on NZ passport . This is my concern . I always book a return ticket .fly from LAX. And I have booked with US passport . If I get to the airport and decide to use NZ passport ,and give it to Air NZ .. my ticket will say my name , NZ passport number . So when I go through the lines and it’s checked in the US as they scan it and give my US passport as I see you must leave and enter on US . Won’t that be a problem handing them the US passport with the ticket saying NZ passport number with my name ? And when I return leaving NZ I think you have to apply for the visa a few days before , but I won’t need one as I would have my US one but I’m not sure if NZ will let me change the details in their system as they will have NZ info not the US . I hope I have explained this . I get to the airport and always chicken out from trying to use my NZ passport as I think I won’t be able to get through the tsa or back in the USA. I don’t know now if USA has a passport check as well before I get on plane Thank you. Diane

Hi Diane! I think the best solution for you is to book your return ticket from the USA, using your US passport. Then when you arrive in NZ, show NZ immigration your NZ passport. When you arrive back in the US, simply show immigration your US passport. Hope that helps!

Thank you for replying , I had thought of doing that before. But what made me uncomfortable is I had heard that before the plane arrives the manifest with all the passengers and their countries is sent on to NZ, mine would say USA and on the plane the arrival card I never know what to ask for a visitor or a returning resident card . So Ive always done a visitor . I thought if I filled out a NZ citizen card and handed that in would they be running around looking for a American that boarded in LAX but didnt depart ? I know they have those self scan kiosks for NZ citzens there but I didnt use them . I know its foolish but I dont want to make a mistake . I also thought coming in as a US citizen ( i would bring my NZ passport ) if something happened and I needed to stay longer would they give me a clearance to stay longer than 90 days . I wish dual citzens could use the one passport. Thank you another question, how would I leave NZ ? My ticket would say US but I give immigration the NZ passport to check or the US ?

I don’t think you’ll have a problem with NZ immigration. There is nothing wrong with having US and NZ dual citizenship so when you show NZ immigration your NZ passport, they won’t care what details you put on your flight booking. On the off chance that there is any confusion, you can easily explain that you have dual citizenship. I’ve often booked tickets on one passport and then entered my arrival country using my other passport without any problem.

When you leave NZ, simply show NZ immigration your NZ passport and then when you land in the US, show immigration your US passport. My main advice would be to always travel with both so if there is ever any confusion you can easily explain the situation and show proof of your dual citizenship 🙂

I have dual citizenship, American and Peruvian. I am traveling to Russia from Los Angeles via Spain. My plan is to leave the US with my American passport and checking in Spain with my Peruvian passport. Then, fly to Russia and checking in with my Peruvian passport since visa is not required there for Peruvians. I will fly back to Spain from Russia using my Peruvian passport as well. Before returning to the US, should i leave Spain showing my American passport all the way for check-in and immigration? and, Is my travel plan actually making sense?

Hi Joseph! That plan makes sense to me! When leaving Spain, you should show Spanish immigration your Peruvian passport (as you entered Spain using that passport) and then when you return to the US, show immigration your US passport.

Thanks a lot, Michael!

I just recently became a dual Australian / Canadian. The problem with this situation is that both countries require electronic travel authorization in order to be able to board a flight. So for example, if I was only Australian and I wanted to fly to Canada I would have had to get an ETA from Canada, which would be checked by the airline. If I was only Canadian I would need to do the same if I was going to Australia.

The problem now is that as a dual citizen I need to enter and exit each respective country on it’s own passport, but neither passport will have an ETA because you can’t get one as a citizen.

My understanding of how it’s supposed to happen, is that you check in and show the airline the passport of the country you are going to travel to, but at the exit immigration you show the passport of the country you’re currently in. So if I were to leave Australia I would check in to my flight on the Canadian passport and then at the exit gates I would show my Australian passport.

To the best of my knowledge, the airline should not be concerned with whether you are in the country legally or not – that’s not their job. Their only responsibility is to ensure that you are the the actual holder of the passport, and that you are authorised to travel to your intended destination.

There’s a lot of confusing information out there though and I could be mistaken – I’ve not had the opportunity to put this theory to the test yet.

This is a great discussion here and it’s all extra pieces to the puzzle!!!

Thanks for your comment Barry! In my experience, airlines in Australia don’t let you check into a flight with a different passport if you’re an Australian citizen (that scenario is actually what promoted me to write this article!). However, there is nothing wrong with booking with an Australian passport and then entering your destination country with a different passport.

I think the reason it was an issue in Australia is that the systems are more advanced and are linked to visa data. This is probably not the case in many countries and might not be an issue elsewhere.

I have both UK and New Zealand passports. I wish to enter Australia using my New Zealand passport. When booking a return ticket from U.K. which passport should I register with the airline? On return to the U.K. Do I leave Australia on my UK passport?

Hi David, when arriving in Australia, show immigration your NZ passport. Likewise, when leaving Australia, exit on your NZ passport. It shouldn’t matter which passport you register with the airline in the UK – just make sure to show them your NZ passport if they ask how you’re entering Australia.

Hi Michael – Great article! My parents are dual citizens of US and Bosnia. They currently reside in the Balkans and will be traveling to US for visit. In terms of immigration, there should be no problems as they will carry both passports, but could you please provide your advice in terms of booking tickets and boarding (especially on the way back from US back to Europe). Thank you. Sasha

Hey Sasha! It shouldn’t matter which passport you book with, however, I would probably suggest booking using the US passport as there are no restrictions for US citizens travelling to Europe. As you’ve said, as long as they have both passports with them when checking in then there shouldn’t be any problems!

Hi Micheal,

I am dual Canadian with UK, I am flying to Thailand from Canada threw Hong Kong and the same route on the way back, I live in Canada full time. Should I bring both passports and which one is best to use Canadian or UK passport? Thank you Derek

Hi Derek, As both UK and Canada passports allow visa-free entry into Thailand & Hong Kong, you can enter those countries on either passport. As you’re flying in an out of Canada, it’s best to use your Canadian passport.

Hello, I am a South Korean having British passport. South Korea does not allow a dual nationality. I flew to the UK with my Korean paasport and got 6 months visa on my Korean passport.

As 6 months passed, I flew out to Iceland for a week with a Korean passport. From the immigration entering to the UK, I presented a Korean but for some reason, the immigration officer did not gave me a visa, telling me that I should travel using my British passport.

With a Korean passport, I flew to Iceland, got a stamp, but flying back to the UK, I didn’t get a stamp…

On my Korean passport, I phisically flew to and flew out of Iceland but I have gone nowhere as British immigration did not stamp on my Korean passport.

Now, I have to go back to South Korea as a South Korean.

What should I do? Please help me I got a butterfly in my stomach…

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Hi Sen, I suggest you speak to an immigration expert in Korea who understands the implications of this. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if you’ll have any issues when returning to Korea. Hope it all works out well for you.

Hi Michael, I am a dual citizen of Australia (born and living here) and Greece. I am wanting to live and work in the UK for several months – a year.

Would I leave/enter Australia and book flights on Australian passport and use my Greek passport for entry/exit immigration in UK? (I’m past age limit for a work Visa via Australia/Commonwealth; and I believe EU passport holders in UK don’t have to do anything until late 2020 or 21 re: Brexit.)

Thanks for the info on your blog! Very helpful.

Hi Sebastian, Yes, while the UK is in the EU you can book flights from Australia on your AU passport and enter the UK on your Greek passport and have working rights. However, as Brexit negotiations aren’t finalised yet there is still uncertainty as to what rights EU citizens will have once they leave the EU at the end of March – this should hopefully be clearer in the next couple of months!

Hi there, I have dual citizenship (Australian/Russian). My Russian passport on my maiden name, my Australian passport on my married name. If I am flying from Australia to Russia and back, how do i need to book return ticket, i mean what name should i use?

Hi, I’m not sure what Russia’s stance is on dual citizenship and whether their airline systems are linked to immigration which could complicate this situation. I think as you’re leaving from Australia you need to book with the name on your AU passport. However, I suggest contacting the airline (and possibly an immigration expert) to see if they think there would be any issues when you board your return flight from Russia.

Hi Michael, I have dual citizenship Netherlands/Thai. Right now I’m in thailand I want to go back to Europe but my Netherlands passport cannot be use in thailand. how should I go back and do I need a visa for my thai paspoort to go to Paris ?

Hi Pramot! You should use your Thai passport when leaving Thailand and show your Dutch passport to immigration when you enter Europe – this will mean you don’t need to apply for any visa on your Thai passport!

Hi Michael. A current question! We live in France (UK citizens and passports), I have recently received my Irish (ie European) passport. Are you saying I should enter my Irish passport number to leave France (and re-enter) and my British passport to enter and leave the UK? All such a mess and my husband will still have to queue in the “rest of the world” queue while I (hopefully!) sail through!!

Hi Patsy, Usually you should leave the country on whichever passport you entered on. At the moment while the UK is in the EU, I don’t think it matters which passport you use to leave France as you’re not stamped in when entering the country. Obviously, this could all change in a month’s time and I don’t think anyone really has a correct answer yet for what to do. Hope this helps 🙂

Michael – Thanks for all the help. I’m amazed at how responsive you are! My question goes back to having differing surnames on passports. If I depart/fly using one name/passport (say passport X), can I still use the second other name passport (passport Y) at immigration of the arrival country? If airlines share passenger manifests with immigration, won’t this raise a red flag for them, since the name/citizenship of the second passport (passport Y) will not exist on the flight manifest? Thanks

No problem JP! I have two passports with different names and will often use a different passport on arrival and I have never had an issue with immigration. The only time I think this could be an issue is if you’re travelling to a country where they don’t allow or restrict entry to certain passports. In these situations, it’s probably best to depart on the passport that will be allowed to enter at the destination (however, the airline probably won’t let you board in this case anyway!)

Regarding different spellings in the two passports (“When booking your flight, you should ensure you enter the name as it appears in the passport for which you are purchasing and checking into your flight”):

How does this work with round-trip tickets between the two countries of citizenship, when it is required to use passport A (with spelling A) in one direction and passport B (with spelling B) in the other direction? For a round-trip ticket, the name has to be spelled the same way in both directions, so there will be a mismatch in the name on the ticket versus the passport in one direction or the other. How do you (and how do the airlines) deal with that?

I would suggest checking with the airline that you’re flying with. I don’t think it should be an issue in terms of immigration as you can still show the passport of the country when leaving and hopefully the airline will be satisfied if you show both passports upon checking in.

Hai Michael,

I have Malaysian and US passport. If I wanted to go to US, as per my understanding I will leave and come back to Malaysia by Malaysian passport and enter and exit US by US passport. The one that I’m curious is about the exit stamp from Malaysia when I came back from US. They will not asking where did I go? Where did I coming from? Thanks in advance

Hi Raeyzar, I, unfortunately, don’t really know about the Malaysian immigration rules. If both countries recognise dual citizenship it shouldn’t be an issue, however, I suggest trying to contact other people with dual citizenship in Malaysia to see how they get around this.

hi raeyzar, i have malaysia and us citizenship as well and was wondering if you still do and can compare notes about the experience? i’m planning to renew my malaysian and travel to malaysia soon. hope you don’t mind corresponding by anonymous account. thanks

Hi, currently located in UK with a UK passport and an Australian passport. Usually I will not use my Australia passport to travel unless going to Australia. However, with EU exit with no deal in 10days time, the advice was to make sure UK passport holder have 6mths validity on it. Mine was just under!!! I’m travelling in 3 weeks time to Italy for 2 weeks, and I do not want to pay extra to get a new passport. Do you think I could exit UK with UK passport, using my OZ passport to enter Italy (as will have more than 6mths validity), then depart Italy with Oz passport, and enter via immigration (as got kids with me, cannot use e-gate) with UK passport? And when I enter my info for the airline, I will use my Oz passport info, as there’s no check on departure at UK airport? Many many thanks!!

Hi Carla, What you’ve suggested doing with your Oz passport seems fine to me. If the UK doesn’t leave the EU at the end of the month then using your UK passport shouldn’t be an issue but given the uncertainity, it’s good to have a second option! 🙂

Thanks! still no clear sign of we leaving EU or not in 2 days time!! Anyway, I now need to enter advance passenger info for the airline in order to do online check in. I suppose I should use the Oz passport details since that’s most likely what I should and will use to enter Italy?

Yes, it shouldn’t a problem to use your Oz passport when travelling to Italy – have a great trip! 🙂

My wife and have passports from Hong Kong due to our birth and America passports after we immigrated here 30 years ago. We are traveling to Russia from US with stopovers in Europe for both outbound and inbound for non visa related reasons. The names on my wife’s passports are not the same. One with her maiden name and one with only my last name. We plan to enter Russia with our HK passports since no visa required, and we booked our airline tickets with the names on the HK passports. For our return flights back to US with few days in Lisbon, we booked the tickets with particulars on our US passports. My wife now worries whether she will have problem when leaving Russia with air tickets on a different passport than the one for entry. Appreciate your insight and advice.

Hi Sing, in most countries this shouldn’t be an issue as long as you show immigration the passport you entered with when exiting the country. I’m not certain if this would be different in Russia – I suggest calling the airline and see if it’s an issue in Russia specifically.

Hi I’m travelling with NZ and UK passports. I am in Bolivia and both passports allow a stay up to 90 days per year. Last year I stayed for nearly 90 days on my NZ passport then travelled to Peru. I returned by flight and changed to my UK passport. No body asked if I had another passport and I got the entry stamp with no problems and stayed another 90 days. Do you know if I have broken any laws by staying for 90 days twice with separate passports?

Hi James! I’m sorry but I’m not sure of the specific laws in Bolivia. Sorry can’t be of more help!

Hi. I have two passports one British one Canada..I am currently living in India on a one year visitor visa,I have a visa on my Canada passport but I am applying for a retirement visa in thailand and want to do so on my British passport.Can I leave India with my British passport even though i have india visa on my Canada passport..

Hi Graham, When you leave India, you’ll need to show immigration your Canadian passport. When you enter Thailand, you should show immigration your British passport with your visa. Hope that helps.

Im trying to figure out in advance the new pre-screening that USA citizens will need to enter Europe beginning in 2021. I have both passports and usually travel in the exact way that you suggest. However I’m unclear now as to whether I will need to pre-screen, I have the EU passport, but if I book and exit the USA with the USA passport it seems I could be required to pre-screen? Any thoughts on this?

I’m not across all the details of pre-screening but if you have an EU passport then I can’t see why you would need to do anything differently. If you get questioned why you don’t have it in the US then showing your EU passport should solve any confusion.

Ok, thank you for your reply. It makes sense)

Hi, my girlfriend wants to come visit me in Holland. Her departure is from Thailand and as far as i know Thailand doesnt support dual citizenship, if im correct. Her new german passport will arrive soon and im wondering what would be best. I thought it would be best to register her Thai passport on the ticket and check-in + immigration from Thailand (departure) with her thai passport. Then at arrival in Holland use her German passport. At departure from Holland use the german passport again and at arrival in thailand use her Thai passport again. Is that correct?

Besides, i wonder if the thai immigration will ask for her visa going to Holland cause as a thai citizen traveling to holland you need a visa. Or is that only the concern of the Dutch immigration? That way it wouldnt be a problem arriving in holland with a German passport.

We have been doing alot of research and it is just hard to tell what is right or wrong.

Hi Kevin, The airline she’s flying with will need to check that she can enter the destination legally. I suggest contacting the airline and confirming with them that showing the German passport will be sufficient proof.

Usually when going through immigration they don’t check or care where you’re going. I don’t know if Thai immigration is any different but that usually means that they just stamp you out and don’t do any further checks. As you’ve said when in Holland, enter and exit on the German passport and then re-enter Thailand on the Thai passport. Hope that helps!

Ok it may have been answered already and I’m sorry if it has. I booked a flight to Portugal from Vancouver but I have two connections one in Montreal and in Amsterdam before arriving to Portugal. My passport details when I booked my flight is Canadian. When I arrive into Amsterdam should I use my Canadian passport or Portugal passport or my Portugal identity card (my Portuguese passport will be new 2 months)

Hi Gina! If you’re staying in the Schengen Area for under 90 in 180 days then it doesn’t matter which passport you use (the line might be shorter for EU passports though!). If you’re staying for longer than that then use your Portuguese passport. I think an ID card is valid in the same way as a passport when entering into the EU.

Hi, Michael

My 11 year old nephew is a US citizen by birth and Chinese citizen by descent. Since China doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, he holds a Chinese travel document (equivalent to Chinese passport for minors) and a US passport. Next month, he will be traveling from US to Spain to China.

My questions are:

1) Should he enter Spain with US passport (no visa needed) or with a Schengen visa to be obtained on his Chinese travel document?

2) Should he book the airline ticket using US passport (departing country) or Chinese travel document (final destination)?

3) If he enters and leaves Spain with US passport, will Spain exit immigration or airline see this as a problem because his US passport doesn’t have a visa to China? Will showing them Chinese travel document suffice?

4) Can he enter Spain with US passport and leave Spain with Chinese travel document? or this could be a problem because he wasn’t “logged out of” Spain on his US passport?

5) Enter Spain with a Schengen visa on Chinese travel document. Will Spain even grant him a short-stay Schengen visa because he’s US citizen?

Would appreciate your insights on this, thank you!

Hi JG, I suggest you speak to somebody that understands the implications of entering China after visiting a country with another passport as I’m not sure about the checks that China would specifically do.

In terms of entering Spain, if he enters with his US passport then he needs to leave on his US passport. Spanish immigration won’t care about whether he can enter China legally or not however the airline might ask for proof that he can enter China (showing a Chinese travel document should be sufficient). I’m not sure whether Spain would grant a Schengen visa in such a situation.

One option if possible could be to book the USA to Spain leg on the US passport and then Spain to China on the Chinese passport, however, as suggested above, it’s probably best to speak to somebody that is across what checks China specifically does when entering the country to ensure he doesn’t have any issues.

I have British and NZ citizenship and passports, but live in the UK. I have a new NZ passport acquired in the UK, but not used. I am awaiting for my British passport to be returned from the Russian embassy with a visa to visit Russia (meant to be fast track and posted back), but am worried that I might not have received it back by the time I leave for a trip planned to Armenia early next month.

In the event of my UK passport not arriving before the Armenia trip could I use my NZ passport to depart the UK, and then for return to the UK? I don’t think there would be any issue using the NZ passport to enter and leave Armenia.

The trip to Russia is not until early July.

Grateful for any advice.

Hi Paul, Many countries don’t allow you to enter a country that you are a citizen of with another passport. I’m not sure about the UK specific rules but I think this might cause an issue when re-entering the UK. Do you have a UK ID Card you could use to enter instead?

You shouldn’t have an issue leaving the UK as they don’t check passports and New Zealand is visa-free for Armenia so you could theoretically enter Armenia on your NZ passport and then use a UK ID Card to return.

Hi! I am a Kuwait and Philippines passport holder.

In a few months, I am flying to South Korea, where my Kuwait passport doesn’t need a visa. I will be coming from the Philippines. (The Philippines passport needs a visa to enter Korea. I have done this before and was granted single entry whilst my Kuwait passport was being renewed.)

This time, can I use my Kuwait passport, or should I just apply for a visa to Korea using my Philippines passport again? What details should I use for booking, and which passport should I present/bring at what point in the process?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Hi Fati, You can enter/exit Korea on your Kuwait passport and enter/exit Philippines on your Philippines passports.

I have booked a return ticket for my mom departing from (Johannesburg, South Africa) and arriving in New York (United States) in September.

My mom is a South African Citizen that holds dual citizenship by having also having an Italian (EU) passport.

The problem is that my moms South African Identity Document and South African passport are in the name of her married surname, but her italian(EU) passport is in her maiden name. Apparently she was told that in Italy they always use your maiden surname for your passport.

The problem is that i have booked the ticket in her Married surname which matches her South African passport ,but differs from her Italian passport that uses her maiden surname. Of course it is easier to enter the united states on her Italian passport as you get a visa exemption by application for the ESTA online application. It is alot cheaper as it is about 17$ as apposed to 100$ plus for applying for a full visa on your South African passport.

I have considered cancelling the ticket and re-booking it in her Italian maiden surname, but then my issue lies that leaving South Africa legally you need to leave and return on your South African passport. The problem then is that the surname on the ticket and south african passport will differ.

What complicates matters further is that she got divorced years ago but still retained her married name so we can’t even use a marriage certificate to indicate the difference in surnames on her South African and Italian passport.

I sincerely hope you can guide me with which is the best way to handle this. I am worried that the current way of booking the ticket on her Married surname will result in her being detained from entering the united states as the surname will differ to that on her italian passport. But then, if we change the ticket to her maiden Italian passport surname , we might have issues getting her out of South Africa to New York, what to do 🙁

Hi Marco, She could fly out of South Africa on her SA passport, do the ETSA application on the Italian passport and then enter & exit the US on her Italian passport. The airline might ask for proof that she can enter the US and then showing the Italian passport should be sufficient – you can call the airline to clarify this to make sure.

Thankyou Michael. After much effort i was able to get some clarity on the airlines twitter support handle. It seems it will be fine whether we booked on the SA passport name or Italian passport name as long as we bring both passports.

Great to hear Marco!

My son has German and South Korean passports. We live in China, and we plan to travel to Russia, which means we have a round trip flight tickets. He has his Chinese residency visa on his German passport, but he can travel to Russia visa-free using his South Korean passport, so we’d like to save money and not apply for his Russian visa on his German passport. Which passport number should he be using for airline ticket booking? I tried calling the airlines, all relevant embassies, and at one point even the immigration office, but no one seems to be able to give a clear answer. Perhaps you can help…?

Hi YL, in terms of immigration, he can use his German passport to exit China and the South Korean passport to enter Russia. Theoretically, it shouldn’t matter which passport you use on the airline booking though some countries have their airline check-in linked to immigration which might cause confusion if you’ve entered a passport that you haven’t used to enter the country (this could occur in both China and/or Russia). I’m not sure if that is the case in China or Russia, however, hopefully as long as he has both passports with him, then it can be used to clear up any confusion.

Hi Michael, My wife and I have valid US and Armenian passports. We’ll be travelling to Prague for four days, then to St. Petersburg, RU. I’d like to enter without visa, as my Armenian passport should be visa-free. What do you think?

Hi Leo, I don’t think it should be a problem – just show your Armenian passport when entering Russia.

Hello, I’m Chinese but now have the Italian citizenship. I have the Italian passport but also the Chinese one, renovated recently. I also still have the residency permit for Italy. Do you know/think if they will let me enter without a visa in China? I think I will stay like for a month.

If you have a Chinese passport, wouldn’t you need to use that to enter China?

Thank you for responding and yeah but you know that China don’t allow have two citizenship or passports. And I’m afraid that they won’t let me pass or something like this.

I suggest trying to contact some people that might be in a similar situation to you as I’m not sure about the practicalities of the Chinese dual citizenship laws.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us all!

I have a question and I’d like to know if anyone could help.

I have Japanese and Brazilian passports, and I live in Tokyo. I’m going to Italy in 2 days but I just realized now that you need to have passport that is valid for over 90 days to enter Europe. My Japanese passport will expire next month.

I think the main issue would be with the airline during check-in. If I show them my Japanese passport (to prove I’m a citizen of japan) but explain that I plan on arriving in Italy with my Brazilian one (that is valid for 5years), would they be okay with that? Even I bought the ticket with my Japanese passport?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I think it should be fine however you could call the airline to confirm.

Hi, Thanks for this article. I have two passports (AUS/UK) and was wondering, if I enter France for example on my Australian passport (and also leave on it) and then the next time I enter on my UK passport, can the system recognize that I am the same person travelling on a different passport or am I technically ‘two different people’? Thanks, Jess

Hi Jess, AUS & UK share information so they’ll likely be able to connect the dots, particularly if you have the same name on both passports.

Very well written and very helpful article, thank you!! I soon will become an Australian citizen and will be a dual passport holder. Unfortunately my first citizenship is from a country that does not allow two citizenships and I don’t want to give up my original passport. After reading your article then I should follow example 1 on your article however I have some questions that I hope you might be able to help given my circumstances.

1. If I booked my flight, checked-in and go through Australian immigration using my Australian passport, would my Australian passport details be pass on to my original country and raise a flag when I arrive there?

2. If I booked my flight, checked in using my original passport and then use my Australian passport at the Australian immigration, would this be a problem at the Australian immigration as they may only the details of my original passport from the airline? If yes is this something that can easily resolve by showing both my original passport as well as my Australian passport?

Also would Australian immigration providing my Australian passport details to the arrival country or this only be done by the airlines and not the Australian immigration department?

I hope my questions aren’t too confusing and a million thanks in advance.

Hi, I imagine the amount of information that is shared between immigration offices will be based on the relationship between the two countries. I’m not sure exactly what Australian immigration will pass on but I do know that you will get questioned at check-in if you try to check in with a passport that you haven’t used to enter Australia. I suggest reaching out to some other people in your situation and see what their experience is.

Nice article Michael.

Hi Michael, I will be renewing my US passport in HK, however I live in China and I have another country’s passport with my visa to China in it. Do you think I would be allowed to travel back to China and stay there while waiting for my American passport to finish the renewal process?

If you enter HK on your US passport then you’ll need it to leave HK and go back to China. If you enter HK on your other passport then I don’t think it should be an issue.

I’m a US/NZ dual citizen. Just want to clarify. I booked a flight from NZ to US using my NZ passport. I show my NZ passport to check-in and NZ immigration whilst keeping my US passport available just in case they wish to see it. Then once arriving in the US, I use my US passport at customs there for entry. Again, keeping my NZ passport available just in case. Upon exiting the US, I show my US passport, then upon entry into NZ, I show my NZ passport. Correct? Do I need to obtain an ESTA visa since I used my NZ passport to book my return flight from NZ?

That sounds right to me. You shouldn’t need an ESTA as you are a US citizen.

Hi Michael I am a dual UK/US citizen. I live in the UK and always have done but my mother is from the States. My children are not dual nationality so just have UK passports.

My UK passport has expired so I am using my U.S passport to travel with my children on a family holiday. I am doing this because a few years ago I was reprimanded by a TSA agent for travelling on my UK passport and thus having had to apply for an ESTA. He told me that under no circumstances was I to travel on a UK passport into or out of the USA if I was a US citizen.

Last year I travelled to Italy from the UK with my son, and because I was using my US passport and he was using his UK passport he and I had to endure standing in a 2.5hour queue for non-EU citizens on our return to the UK. We were then reprimanded by UK passport control officers and not allowed re-entry to the UK because they said I had no documentation to say I had leave to stay in the UK. I live in the UK and had my UK bank cards and drivers license etc but that wasn’t acceptable proof. THEY told me I need to show my UK expired passport alongside my US passport on re-entry to the UK. (However, only one month earlier I had returned from Spain and travelled both ways on my US passport without any problems!)

What do you suggest I do this time? I am travelling to the US in 2 weeks, and my UK passport is still expired. Should I try to rush a renewal through???

Most countries have rules that if you are citizen you have to enter that country on its own passport.

My scenario is different. I have dual citizenships of two countries (eg. Kenya and Cameroon) which you certainly need to apply for a visa for entry into most parts of the world. I would like to know if it is possible to apply and obtain a Schengen visa on both passports. I currently have a multiple entry Schengen visa on one passport, but I would like to use the second passport/nationality at times visit Europe. Can I apply for another Schengen visa on the other passport at the same time? Thanks for your advice.

Hi Kongi – you should ask this to whoever is processing your Schengen Visa.

Hello Michale, I am a dual CZ / VN citizen. I will fly with my friends to Vietnam and we would like to stop in China and visit Beijing. Should I fly with Cz passport and then when entering and leaving Vietnam prove the Vietnamese passport? I bought a ticket for a Czech passport. Thanks for your advice.

Hi Nga, Most countries require you to use that country’s passport when entering if you are a citizen.

Thanks for the helpful post. Any idea what procedure dual US-EU citizens should follow when traveling from the US to Europe starting in 2021? European authorities will soon require American citizens to apply for a visa waiver travel authorization (ETIAS) before departing on flights to the Schengen zone.

Until now, I’ve always presented my US passport at check-in when leaving the United States (which, according to the State Department, is the law for US citizens). However, the ETIAS authorization will complicate things for dual citizens, who are supposed to exit the US with an American passport, but won’t need the visa waiver authorization because they are also EU citizens. Which passport should dual nationals share with the airline on flights to Europe? Do we add the US passport details upon booking but check in with the EU passport? Or enter the EU passport details into APIS when booking?

It looks like dual nationals may need to register their EU passport with the airline for flights from the US to Europe, and their US passport at check-in for flights from Europe back to the US. I’m a bit reticent about departing the US on my EU passport, as the US would have no record of my leaving the country. Yet if I fly out on my US passport, I can see a messy situation where the airline might deny boarding on a flight to Europe because they don’t see an EU travel authorization (even though I wouldn’t need one as an EU citizen). Thanks for any advice.

Hi Justin, I doubt it’ll be much of an issue as long as you travel with both passports. Showing the airline your EU passport should be sufficient even if booking on your US passport to prove that you can enter the EU without an ETIA.

Hi, I am sooo happy to find someone to ask this to. Thanks for your help. I am a dual citizen Spanish-Mexican, I recently visited the US and entered with my Spanish passport with the ESTA, but when leaving, I decided to do check-in on line, my Spanish passport was there, but it did not let me do the check in, I was told by the airline I needed my Mexican passport to go back, so I simply entered the Mexican’s passport info and it went through fine, went to the airport, printed the boarding pass on a kiosk and went through security handing my Spanish passport only to realize that what they did scan was the boarding pass on which the Mexican info was in. They let me through as they only check the name, boarded the plane and left. Will I have any problem when going back to the US?

Hi Karen, I can’t say for certain but I doubt this will be an issue. When applying for an ESTA you enter your dual citizenship information so I imagine the US system has your information linked.

Hi, I’m a dual citizen of Australia and Uk, living in the UK. My UK passport was recently stolen… but is it possible for me to travel out of, and back into, the UK, using my Australian passport?

Hi Spencer, you should get a new UK passport before leaving the UK. Typically countries which you’re a citizen of won’t allow you to enter on a different passport.

Hello – I reside in Canada and hold Canadian and Taiwanese passports. Flying from Canada to Taiwan, should I be filling out my departure flight passport info with Canadian or Taiwanese? Am I able to check into the flight with Taiwan passport and show Canadian passport at departure security? Otherwise not seeing at what point will it register on my Canadian passport I have departed Canada. I know I’m to use Canadian upon return but will there be an issue if it never showed that I left on Canadian?

Hi Bron, you should show your Canadian passport when going through immigration at your departure airport – this doesn’t have to be the same passport as the one you check in with.

HI Michael I will be entering Spain on my Australian passport therefore I know I can stay a maximum of 90 days before exiting to UK (able to enter there with UK passport) for 90 days. I have applied for an Irish passport but this is delayed by the lockdown in Ireland. I understand that no matter what I will need to depart Spain on my Australian passport to show I have exited the Schengen zone. My question is that if my Irish passport arrives can I re-enter mainland Europe and/or Spain before my 90 days out of the zone in UK is up? Obviously I will still be the same person who could only stay in the zone for 90 days out of 180 days, but with an Irish passport I will have the right to live and work in Europe. I do not want to break the law but also am not hugely keen to stay for 90 days in UK if it is not necessary. Any advice woud be much appreciated.

Hi Anie, I think once you have an Irish passport as an EU citizen there shouldn’t be any restrictions on your ability to enter Spain or any EU country outside of any current restrictions imposed. If you would like confirmation, I would suggest contacting the Irish Embassy.

I’m a US citizen with a Turkish passport with a different first and last name than my US passport. I would like to Travel to Mexico using my Turkish passport. Can I book the tickets with my Turkish name and depart to Mexico with my Turkish passport without showing my US passport? Upon my return I would need to show my US citizenship in order to enter back in the country but would I run into any sort of trouble? I would like all my flight info and immigration to be from my Turkish and not US.

I would also like to do the same thing with future travels. Book/travel with my Turkish passport/name but enter back into the States as smoothly as possible given my situation.

Hi, Michael Thank you for all your information. I have US passport and Thai passport. Before I became US citizens, I had Green card. I traveled to Thailand with my Thai passport. After years later, I became US citizens and I applied US passport. I traveled to Thailand many times by useing only US passport because at that time, I don’t know I still can use Thai passport to enter to Thailand Until my Thai passport expired, so I went to renew Thai passport at Royal Thai Embassy and it was expired 4 years ago. If I renew Thai passport and I will be going to use Thai passport to enter Thailand. Do you think Thai immigration will giving me hard time by asking me such as where have you been? Etc I don’t use my Thai passport over 20 years. Any advice woud be much appreciated. Thank you

Hi Saowanee, I don’t know specifics about Thai immigration rules for dual citizens.

Hi, i am a dual national and was wondering how the iata travel pass would work given that it stores passport details but when i depart my first home country i use passport A which is registered with iata travel pass but my arrival country, passport B is not tied to the iata travel pass…

Hi Michael. Thanks for this post. I just came across it. However it has also got me really worried.

Some background on my situation. I am an Australian Citizen by birth and have lived here all my life. I have an Australian Passport. I also acquired Greek citizenship by decent and recently obtained a Greek passport. I mainly did this so that my children could in the future claim Greek citizenship through decent.

The name on my Greek passport and Australian Passport differ (as my name in Greek is spelt differently, and they also do not have a middle name). Surname is the same on both.

Australian Passport first name (plus middle name): George Steven SURNAME
 Greek Passport first name (no middle name): Georgios SURNAME

To date the difference in names has not concerned me as I always planned to travel to Greece using only my Australian Passport.

However I recently came across the proposed new ETIAS Visa Waiver authorisation (due by start of 2023). This will complicate the situation for dual citizens (who hold an EU passport and say an Australian Passport as I do). Technically I may not be able to apply for a Visa Waiver as I am an EU citizen with a valid passport (even though I would be happy to apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver so that I could just travel on my Australian Passport)

My understanding to date on how to use both passports- until reading your post- has been the following:

FLYING FROM AUSTRALIA to GREECE – Buy a one way ticket using Greek passport details A. I purchase the airline ticket in the name of the passport that will allow me to enter the destination country. So in my case if I fly from Australia to Greece , the name should be booked under GEORGIOS SURNAME as I will not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver (as I am a citizen of an EU nation). B. At Australian immigration I would present my AUSTRALIAN Passport (as Australia wants you to exit and enter on the Australian Passport) C. At Greek immigration I would present my GREEK PASSPORT

However ,based on what you have written in your post I should purchase my airline ticket to Greece and check in at the airline desk with my Australian Passport details . The concern if I do this I that will not be able to enter the EU using my Australian Passport as I will not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver (even though I do not need one as I am a Greek Citizen with a Greek passport). Theoretically the airline could stop me from boarding.

RETURN FLIGHT GREECE TO AUSTRALIA A. The flight ticket would be the same as my Australian Passport (GEORGE STEVEN SURNAME) B. At Greek immigration I would present my GREEK PASSPORT 
C. At Australian immigration I would present my Australian Passport

I am really at a loss as what to do based on your post. I feel like I may never be able to travel back to Greece for a holiday (or at least until my Greek passport expires).

Changing names is not option . I have been advised by the Greek consulate that a change of name is virtually impossible for Greeks without going to court. Changing my name in Australia would be crazy because this is where I live , work , study and everything I have is in my Australian name.

I cannot understand why I am not able to purchase my flight to Greece using my Greek passport details and then exit Australian immigration my Australian Passport ?

Any advice would really be helpful. This has really upset me

Hi George, If you show your Greek passport to the airline in Australia that should be sufficient evidence for them to prove that you can enter Europe legally, regardless of the passport you book your ticket with.

Hi Michael. Thank you for responding so quickly. Still trying to get a handle of this.

Just to clarify your approach:

A. Purchase airline ticket from Australia to Greece in Australian Passport Name : George Steven Surname B. At Airline check in show them Australian Passport (as it will match ticket name) – however no valid ETIAS Visa Waiver would be linked C. At Australian Immigration departure go through with Australian Passport D. In Greece use EU passport on arrival

A and B above still concern me because my Australian Passport will flag on the system that I do not have an ETIAS Visa Waiver. I will then show them my EU passport, but the names GIORGOS and GEORGE STEVEN are different (but the surname, face, DOB and other details will be the same). If they accept this then I assume there must be some system override which they would have to notify Australian Immigration via the Advance Passenger Processing system (APS) and BOC and somehow link the passports ?

I have been reading on adf.gov.au about airline obligations. It states that airlines must: a. Provide advance passenger reports on all passengers and crew B. Not carry undocumented or inadequately documented passengers

My logic is still telling me that I should book the flight from Australia to Greece using my Greek Passport name as the airline will want to make sure I can go through immigration in Greece ……….but there must be something I am missing from your post. When you originally stated that the airline said to you “Always show your Australian Passport”, did that mean “show” or to “book your ticket with that passport” ?

Hi George, As the ETIAS waiver isn’t in force yet, I do not know how or if the advice in this article will change.

Hello! Let me start off by saying this is a great article and I think it’s great you have kept up with it after so many year. My question is, I am Japanese but i have recently obtained Canadian citizenship. I want to move back to Japan but i dont want to have any issues seeing as Japan doesn’t allow dual citizenship. So when i leave canada, should i only use my Japanese passport (buy my ticket in Canada, board the plane from canada, and land in japan all with my japanese passport)

Thank you for your time!

Thanks Joe! That sounds like a reasonable plan!

RE: Traveling between two countries I don’t have passports for?

Hi Michael – thanks so much for this blog! I’m wondering – I have dual citizenship – Taiwan and USA. Both countries allow visa free stay for 90 days within the Schengen states in a 180 days period.

Traveling from USA, I will be in Switzerland for 90 days, and ideally would like to head to Germany right afterwards instead of having to wait for the extra 90 days out of the Schengen state area to go back into Germany.

Is it possible for me to enter Switzerland as a Taiwanese citizen, and after my 90 days stay in Switzerland, to immediate enter Germany as a USA citizen?

Where can I find more information on this type of situation?

Thanks so much!

Hi Venetia, I don’t believe this is allowed. You can contact the relevant embassy for confirmation.

Hello Michael, thank you for a very informative article.

I’m citizen of United States and Ukraine. My dilemma is that I have two different last names. Due to marriage to US citizen. Ukraine doesn’t recognise dual citizenship. Is there a way of travelling as it is and just showing a marriage certificate? Thank you

My case is bit complicated and would love some insight from you guys. I’m a dual US-Algerian citizen with a planned flight from Washington to Algiers. I’m also doing an overnight landside transit in heathrow. I will be sleeping at a hotel nearby, which means I would have to go through border control et? Can someone tell me which passports to use at which point but especially in heathrow during entry and exit. Also APIS from which passport should I use in the different steps of the trip? Thanks in advance.

Hi Michael, thanks for your article and sharing your experience! I hold an Argentinian and Spanish citizenships. I’m currently in Australia with a visa (issued with my Argentinian passport) and I’m planning on going back to Argentina for a few weeks and then return to Australia. The thing is, as there are limited flights, I can only reach Argentina if I transit through the US (ie, Australia – US – Argentina) and I understand I need to hold a US transit visa, which I do have with my Spanish passport. So, I’m not sure if I need to depart Australia with my Argentinian passport (since I entered Australia with it), even though the visa to transit the US is linked to my Spanish passport, or if I need to depart Australia with the Spanish passport (since my US visa is linked to it), but maybe that generates an issue when trying to leave Australia. I appreciate any piece of advice. Thanks!

I have British & German citizenship. When I travel to the European Union I want to stay there for more than 90 days so I will need to use my German passport. Is it OK to leave Britain using my British passport & land in the EU using my German one? Which passport should I use when filling in the advance passenger information? Thanks

I’m dual British/Australian and due to travel back to the uk to see my family for a short visit. My British Passport expired last year and currently being renewed. If I don’t get the new one in time am I ok to travel from Oz to England and back again only with my Aussie passport??

Hi I have a NZ Australian passport and would like to travel home to NZ for a few weeks. Can I leave Australia on my Australian passport, enter NZ on NZ passport then when I leave NZ again use my Australian passport?

Can you book a return ticket with 2 different passports? Country of departure for your outward trip and country of departure for your return trip. Someone told me that you can’t do that. Is that true?

Hi Michael I have a British and an Australian passport. Can I use my British Passport in order to stay 90 days in Spain and then return on my Australian passport to Spain for another 90 days without the restriction of the 90/180 day rule?

UK and USA passport. If I go USA to UK, I understand I should leave the US and return to the US on my American passport, and enter and leave the UK on my UK passport. On the understanding that you should leave and enter on that countries passport. My question, if I book my USA-UK flight and check-in with UK passport, should I then switch to my US one when going through the US security to leave the US. Or should I book, check in and security with my US passport only and then swap over to the UK passport upon landing in the UK.

Hi, the thing that is confusing is the following. I booked an international ticket online (turkish airways). I think (but can’t recall) if it asked me to enter my passport number (I think if it did, I filled out my USA passport number) to buy the ticket. When I leave NY they will want my ‘i.d./passport’ so I was going to show them my USA passport (I do not want them knowing I have another foreign passport).

Now the issue is this – when I transit in Istanbul (I think that’s where immigration might be, or is it the final destination? Not sure but I think its the first foreign country you land in?), I was planning only then to pull out my Bulgarian passport to show (Turkey), not even mentioning I have the USA passport. Then when the flight continues from Istanbul to Bulgaria, I was going to use my Bulgarian passport to enter Bulgaria (not mentioning the USA one). Would that all work out fine?

The main issue and conflicting part from several articles I have read is in the booking of the ticket – that whatever passport number you used when buying the ticket – that is what Immigration in the destination country will see (your US passport #) – which would be a problem (since I booked with my USA one). I want to know is it true that Istanbul or Bulgaria receive some type of ‘manifest’ that shows I left the USA with a US passport, but now am trying to enter these countries with a non-US passport?

Its confusing – because I read ‘as a US citizen, to always enter and exit on the USA passport’ YET if the ticket you are booking is to a foreign country (that you are also a passport holder of) will that cause problems when entering that other place without your US passport (since you bought the ticket with a US passport number and are showing only that US passport that at the US ticket counter)? Not sure if this is making any sense.

If you can explain this I would appreciate it.

To those of you who will be asked ‘where is your onward ticket’ – and you don’t want to pull out your other passport – since I feel its a violation of my privacy, and I don’t want to advertise that fact – you can always go to onwardticket and print out a ticket (or on your phone) for $15.00 to shut up the rep at the ticket counter at check in.

Very helpful site Michael. I hold dual US and NZ citizenship,and live in USA.I am thinking of moving to Australia,(elderly parent) and as a NZ citizen can enter Australia on my NZ Passport and be automatically granted a Special Category Visa.(SCV 444)),which permits me to stay indefinately. However as I have to leave the US on my US Passport,would I need to obtain an entry visa from Australia in my US Passport to prove to US immigration(or airline officials) I have authority to enter Australia?

Hi, I have 2 passports Swedish and Vietnamese with 2 different names. In order to be exempted from visa when entering Vietnam, the round-trip air ticket should be shown as the name on the Vietnamese passport. However, I do not know how should I show right document to the police at Arlanda airport when I leave and back Sweden? Thanks

Hi, I hold dual citizenship, British and Italian. I had always understood that in Britian I should use the British one and in Italy the Italian one. I was told by the Italian authorities that I could book the ticket and check in with either passport but had to show my Italian passport at Italian passport control and my British passport at British passport control. I had always booked the tickets with my British passport and showed the necessary passport at the passport controls and had never had any problems (including several visits this year between the two countries) until this week, when I left Britain to come back to Italy, where I am resident. I had checked in online with my British passport but at the bag drop in Heathrow a message came up saying my documents had to be checked. The airport member of staff then told me that because I was resident in Italy and travelling to Italy I had to travel on my Italian passport even though I was leaving Britain. This had never happened before. Has something changed? Does this mean that every time I leave Italy I have to check in with my British passport as I’m travelling to Britain but use my Italian passport at passport control in Italy and the British one on arrival and then when I leave Britian check in with my Italian passport? This is what I understood from the member of staff but it is different from what the Italian authorities told me.

Trying to figure this out for a trip coming up. I have dual citizenship USA/Portugal. I am traveling to Barcelona in March, but my first stop in Paris is where I will go through passport control. Is this the process: 1. Show US passport at San Francisco airport 2. When I arrive in Paris go to the EU line with my Portuguese passport 3. When returning I show again my US passport at airport 4. Use US passport at SFO.

I only use my EU passport when I arrive in Paris correct?

Also my name doesn’t match on them. EU one is my maiden name.

Travelling with Malaysian and American passport to Malaysia from America

Summary I have a Malaysian and American passport with the below situation and appreciate thoughts on below especially on return to America because of visa requirement.

Situation Passports – I have both Malaysian and American passports Visas – Malaysia requires visa to visit America but America does not require visa to visit Malaysia or second country Hong Kong Policy – I understand America doesn’t care that I have a not allowed Malaysian passport but Malaysia does not allow me to have an American passport and will make me choose passport if discovered

Travel Book ticket in America – use Malaysian passport Check in at starting airport in America – use Malaysian passport Departing immigration in America – Not applicable Arriving immigration in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport

Book ticket – do I have to book 2 one way tickets instead of round trip because I have to use Malaysian passport to depart Malaysia because I don’t have visa for Malaysian passport to visit America and switch passports in intermediary country Hong Kong on the way? Check in at returning airport in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport Departing immigration in Malaysia – use Malaysian passport

Intermediary country Hong Kong arriving immigration – switch from Malaysian to American passport despite flight data? Intermediary country Hong Kong departing immigration – use American passport to match arrival and departure passport? Intermediary country Hong Kong check in – use American passport

Arriving immigration in America – use American passport

Scenario above doesn’t even get into the complications of having to renew Malaysian passport in Malaysia because I don’t have a green card to renew Malaysian passport while living in America. I appreciate anyone’s advice. Thank you.

My husband and I are on holiday in Australia, we have dual nationality and possess both UK and Australian passports; We live in France with permanent residence cards (carte de sejour).

We’ve used our Australian passports to come here, are we right in thinking that on our return trip to France we use our Australian passports on exiting the country in transit at Singapore we can use our Australian passports and at immigration in France show our English passports with our residence cards (carte de sejour).

Very informative article. I have UK and Canada passport. Since Brexit, UK citizens are in the 90/180 day restriction. Which is same restriction for Canada passport in some EU countries., So I want to try to use Canada passport for some trips. For example going to Spain. Can I book airfare and exit UK on Canada passport. Enter Spain on Canada passport. Exit Spain in Canada passport. Enter UK on British passport. So all the days for that trip are in my Canada passport.

Am citizen of Ghana and dual citizenship of Bahamas but I enter Qatar with my Ghana passport but now wanted to leave Qatar to Czech republic with Bahamas passport, is it possible to exit on that since the entry stamped was on Ghana passport?

My husband and I have dual citizenship (Canada/UK) but our two children have Canadian citizenship (but not a Canadian passport yet) so both currently travel only on their UK Passport. We are entering the USA. In the past, I was told to enter and leave the USA on my UK passport because I was flying with my UK passport dependents. So I have an ESTA for all of us. However, should I not be able to enter on my Canadian passport and leave on my UK passport to return home (we live in the UK)? I have read conflicting answers as to whether or not I would need to enter my Canadian passport for both the inbound (to USA) and outbound (to UK) flights, even though when I get to Britain I have to enter on my British passport. Basically, we are trying to confirm whether my husband and I actually do need an Esta of if we can enter as Canadians and leave as Brits!

I have a question if I may.

My mum has a British and Thai Passport but the surname in her Thai Passport is still in her maiden name and the British is in her married name.

So working this out right, it should be British passport leaving UK to Thailand. Enter to Thailand in Thai Passport Leave Thailand on British Passport and enter on UK on British Passport.

Am I correct in this?

Thanks for the great info and blog! Also many other readers comments are very helpful.

As a recent dual citizen of the US with a UK passport, what led me here was seeking clarity on DEPARTING other countries for a return trip to the US. No longer having a Green Card or Visa makes returning to the US impossible….as the airline is screening on behalf of US immigration. So, if I flew into a ‘third” country on a UK Passport, I would have no choice but to present my US passport for a return flight to the US. Reading comments here, it seems to me that the only time that this becomes an issue is where I am arriving into a third country with a specific entry / exit visa requirement.

If I was traveling between the US and the UK and used my UK passport to enter the UK and present my US passport for a return to the US, that should not create any issue with my UK passport…..is that accurate?

Thanks again for all your great advice

my 18 yr old grandson arrived from Australia in June on his Aus passport. His British passport arrived recently. He plans to stay here for about 9 months. We know he has to leave the country by 21st December on his Aus passport to ‘validate’ the 6 months he’s allowed to stay, so we are planning a weekend in Spain. does he have to book 2 single flights because easyjet want the passport numbers. If he shows Spanish immigration his British passport ,the numbers won’t match. We’re a bit confused and would like clarification about leaving and re-entering UK

Hi I was living in canada as permanent resident and having Indian passport but this month I moved to uk on work permit. Soon I will be going back to canada for my citizenship oath .my question is how I can transfer my work permit from Indian passport to Canadian and where I should get it done in canada or in uk , if in uk on which passport should I travel to uk from canada

Hi, I am in mid-process of applying for my three kids’ British Passports. I am British their mum is Japanese and we currently live in Japan. They currently hold New unused 5 year Japanese passports 2028. I have already received one of my twin girls’ British passport already. Am I to understand when they choose to visit family members in the UK 1. they book flights using Jp passport 2. checking-in with Jp passport 3. boarding using B passport 4. entering UK immigration using B passport 5. leaving UK use B passport. 6. Boarding use Jp passport. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

I have two passports: one is Pakistani, and the second one is from Dominica. If I plan to visit Italy, I will book a ticket from Pakistan to Italy using my Dominica passport, as Italy offers free entry for Dominica passport holders. Now, the question arises: which passport should I present during the boarding and immigration process in Pakistan, and which one should I use when returning from Italy? And while returning back which Passport I do show at Italy at boarding and Immigration. If I show Dominica Passport at Italy boarding then they must ask for Pakistan visa since Pakistan is not visa free for Dominica Passport. So advise what to do? and how to book return ticket?

I’m both citizen from France/Canada I’m planning to go to Paris, France from Canada so if i understand clearly for my round trip , i should follow this:

Canada to France 1/ departing from Canadian airport : always show my Canadian passport 2/ arriving in France, always show my french passport

france to canada 3/ departing from french airport, always show my french passport 4/ arriving in Canada, always show my Canadian passport

i understand i should always be ready to show either my french or canadian passport upon request by the airline staff.

Am i right ?

Hi, I and my kids have dual Serbian and Hungarian (EU) passports.We live in China and our Chinese visas are in our Serbian passports. We plan on traveling to Thailand and am wondering how to go about it as Thailand doesn’t require tourist visas for Hungarian passport holders, however I’ve never traveled with two passports and as I’ll be traveling with kids, I’m a bit concerned.One of my child’s first names is also spelled differently in his passports so that’s another thing.Also, if I book us return tickets, which passport do I use at which point?What I understand is that I should use the passport that let’s me travel with no hassle, however if I buy I return ticket, it will be with our Serbian passports that we used to enter China. But then the same passport will be the one on the return ticket so wouldn’t it be a problem if I enter Thailand with my EU passport, but exit with the Serbian one(as that’s the one I bought the ticket with)?

Its a pity you didnt leave the reverse scenarios ? Say you leave UK on US passport and enter Turkey on EU passport what do you do in the reverse senario Do check in with your passport you booked with from the UK ? or the one you arrived on ? Do you switch them around quickly at passport control ?

That would be really helpful to know to people as thats the crucial bit missing.

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Spain travel requirements and rule changes all UK tourists should know about

The rules regarding passports, airport security, visas and travel permits might be different to the last time you visited Spain

  • 05:23, 8 MAR 2024

Group of tourists with suitcases wearing facemasks stood outside the arrivals entrance at a Spanish airport

Millions of British holidaymakers will flock overseas to Spain this year, but there are a number of travel rule changes to be aware of if you're planning a trip.

The entry requirements for UK tourists travelling to EU countries including Spain are different post-Brexit and there are more major system changes on the way.

We've rounded up the key rule changes affecting Brits visiting Spain, including passports, airport security changes, visas and travel permits, so you can look forward to your Spanish holiday and ensure you're fully prepared.

Read more: Exact date Spain will introduce new entry rules for UK tourists

Passport rules

Passport requirements for British citizens flying to other countries in Europe are stricter post-Brexit, so it's important to check yours is compliant well before your trip. Even if your passport is in date, you could still find yourself being turned away at the airport, with no refund offered.

It's recommended that you have at least six months on your passport before it expires, however the expiry date on your passport should be at least three months after your intended day of departure from the EU country you're visiting.

Another passport rule change that has scuppered some families' holiday plans requires travellers to have a passport that is no older than ten years. Some Britons may still have passports over a decade old, as this was allowed prior to the UK leaving the EU.

If your passport was last renewed over ten years ago, you'll need to order a new one. You can check if you need to renew your passport before travelling using this tool on the government's website and you can apply for a new one here . It's worth checking the current wait time for new passports and applying well in advance of your trip as it can take several weeks.

UK tourists do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, as long as your visit doesn't exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. If you're planning to stay longer or work abroad, you'll have to get a visa or necessary permit.

It's worth checking the travel advice page on the Foreign Office website to find out the entry requirements for the specific country you're visiting.

Airport security rules

Most airports across the UK are changing the rules when it comes to hand luggage this summer. New state-of-the-art security scanners mean that passengers will no longer have to follow such strict 100ml liquid rules and will be allowed to keep them in their hand luggage rather than taking them out at security checkpoints.

The government set a June deadline for all airports to upgrade their systems, however some major airports have said theirs won't be ready in time . Several airports in Spain are also scrapping the 100ml rule in an effort to reduce queues and speed up wait times through security during the peak summer period.

Luggage requirements differ depending on which airline you fly with so it's worth double-checking the size and weight limits for your booking. Luxury suitcase brand Antler has halved the price of its Ryanair , Jet2 and TUI-approved Prestwick Cabin Bag from £170 to £85 for a limited time.

Passport stamps

Currently, UK citizens travelling to a country in the EU need to get their passports stamped at the airport when they arrive and again when they leave. Not doing this could cause issues for your next trip, as you may be denied entry if border officials think you stayed for longer than the permitted 90 days last time.

The process of manually stamping passports is soon to change, however, when a new system is introduced later this year. Read more on this below.

New Entry/Exit System

Later this year, the EU is set to scrap the system of manually-stamping passports at the airport in favour of a new automated system. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to be rolled out on October 6, 2024. Until then, holidaymakers will still need to get their passports stamped.

Once up and running, UK travellers will instead have to scan their passports at a self-service kiosk prior to crossing an external EU border. The scanner will log the person's name, type of travel document, date and place of entry and exit, as well as biometric data including fingerprints and a facial image.

The EES system will track how long people stay in countries inside the Schengen area and record any overstayers or refusals of entry.

New travel permits

At some point next year, a secondary scheme will be implemented to work alongside the new Entry/Exit system, that will require British tourists to get travel authorisation before they go on holiday to a country in the EU.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to launch from mid-2025 and holidaymakers will need to apply for permission online or via an app. The application will cost £6 for anyone aged 18 to 70 and will be free for others.

Most people will receive confirmation within minutes, however some applicants may require further checks, which could delay authorisation by up to 30 days. Once approved, the permit will last for three years or until the person's passport expires - whichever is sooner.

The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being phased out post-Brexit, meaning you won't be able to apply for a new one once yours expires. However, UK travellers will be able to order a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which entitles British tourists to the equivalent health services while visiting EU countries.

Both cards give UK tourists access to free or discounted medical care and all British travellers are urged to carry one with them on holiday in case of an emergency. Over four million EHICs are due to expire in 2024, leaving travellers without cover unless they apply for a replacement GHIC online . EHICs can still be used abroad until their expiry date.

Planning a trip to Spain? Visit Booking.com , Expedia or Travel Republic to browse the latest deals on holidays and flights to Spain.

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travelling europe with british passport

Full list of passport rules for TUI, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and British Airways

Brits flying with TUI, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and British Airways are being warned to check their passports and ID cards before heading on holidays to the likes of Spain, Portugal, France and more

Border Force check the passports of passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport

  • 11:03, 7 Mar 2024

People gearing up for holidays this year need to know the different passport rules of different airlines before they fly including Jet2 , Ryanair , TUI , easyJet and British Airways .

Since the UK left the European Union , British passport holders have been subject to more stringent rules regarding their travel documents. Many of those who fall foul of new travel rules have found themselves blocked from travelling and losing out on a pricey break.

As well as their being slightly complex national rules to follow regarding issue and expiry date - which we have explained previously - airlines have specific hoops they ask passengers to jump through before they are able to fly, Birmingham Mail reported.

We take a look at some of the guidelines issued by the biggest UK airlines including what you can expect when moving through passport control - check out the guide below. If you're not sure about your documents, make sure to get in touch with them direct as soon as possible so they can advise if there are any documents you need to get updated.

When you're flying to another country, you need to show a passport or a national ID card that's still valid. If you're flying inside your own country and you're 16 or older, you have to show an up to date photo ID. It may be wise to have a passport with you on such flights in case staff raise issues.

Children who are younger than 16 don't need a photo ID if they're flying with an adult who has one and can say who the child is. Now that the UK isn't in the European Union anymore, countries in the EU want UK passports to be less than ten years old and still valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the country.

To make sure your passport is okay for travel, ask yourself two questions for each person going with you (this includes kids) if you can say yes to both, you're all set:

1. When you get to the EU, will your passport's 'date of issue' be less than 10 years old?

2. When you leave the EU, will your passport still have at least three months left (based on the 'date of expiry')?

If you're going to places that aren't in the EU, like Turkey, the rules might be different, so make sure to check on the Foreign Office's website for specific country-by-country rules.

If you're travelling abroad with Ryanair, you must have a valid passport. For travel outside the EEA (European Economic Area), the passport must be valid for the period of the intended stay, except for the below countries.

The budget airline imposes different rules for different countries outside of the EEA. Those going to Jordan must have a passport which is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay.

When heading to Turkey the passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry, while trips to Montenegro require a passport that is valid for at least three months. For travel to Israel , passengers must have a ticket for flying out of the country.

All non-EU passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country must make sure that their passport is valid for at least three months from the date they will leave the Schengen member country, unless the person has a Schengen-issued residence permit or long-term visa.

UK passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country (excluding Ireland) as of 1 January 2021 must make sure that their passport:

  • is valid for at least three months from the date they will leave the Schengen member country, unless the person has a Schengen-issued residence permit or long-term visa.
  • should be issued within the previous 10 years upon the date of arrival.

Make sure to check the rules of the specific country you're travelling to on the Ryanair website and Foreign Office. It is important to note requirements relating to passport issue and validity date, as these can vary country to country quite significantly.

When flying with TUI, passengers must hold a valid ID with a photograph, such as an international passport or EU National ID. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid photo ID. British Citizens must hold a valid 10-year passport.

EU National IDs must be valid for entry into the country of intended destination. Passports for British citizens are valid for travel to any EU country up to and including the passport expiry date.

The UK Government recommends that on the day you travel you have at least six months left on your passport. Anything less than this may see you face issues at the border. To go to Europe, you must have a minimum of three months left on your passport from the day you're planning to travel home.

Some countries outside of the EU require a British passport to have a certain period of validity left on it, such as six months, or blank pages. Visit the Gov.uk website for advice on a country-by-country basis. It is also your responsibility to check whether you need a visa to enter your destination country, TUI warns.

British Citizens under 16 years old, including newborn babies, are required to have a child passport. The child's passport will initially be valid for five years, but can be renewed for a further five years at the end of this period.

You'll need to have some form of identification on both domestic and international flights with easyJet.

Photographic ID is required on all domestic flights. Children under the age of 16 do not need to show ID on domestic flights (excluding Italy). The adult they are travelling with can vouch for the infant's/child's identity. Children under 14 on Italian domestic flight must show photographic ID.

All customers travelling on international flights must hold either a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity card or Passport, and, where required, a valid visa. Your passport needs to be in good condition and signed. Some countries require that passports are valid for a minimum period beyond your trip, usually three or six months.

Make sure to check your passport's expiry and issue date before you travel. If you're a UK passport holder travelling to the EU (except Ireland), or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City or Switzerland, your passport will need to meet the following criteria:

It must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to depart from the EU or above countries. It must be no more than 10 years' old on the date of travel to the EU or above countries.

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.

British Airways

The UK's flag carrier notes the same EU entry/exit rules on its website as other airlines, but also urges passenger to make sure that their documents "meet the specific passport validity requirements for your destination" - directing them towards the IATA Travel Centre for more information.

BA also notes that passports must be signed by their owner. "You may be denied entry or fined in some countries for travelling with an unsigned passport," the airline warns.

With BA children need their own passports to travel internationally, including infants under two. Infant and children's passports are only valid for five years, so please check the expiry date before departure.

"Please note, it’s your responsibility to ensure you have valid documentation when you travel. If you fail to comply with these requirements, you may not be allowed to travel, or you may be refused entry at your destination and have to pay associated costs," the airline warns.

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Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet passport rules for 2024

We've rounded up guidelines from Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet in regards to passport control

  • 13:30, 7 MAR 2024
  • Updated 13:33, 7 MAR 2024

Passports

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Here's a complete guide to passport rules from Jet2, Ryanair, Tui and easyJet for both international and domestic flights. With the summer holidays just around the corner in 2024, many of us are eagerly awaiting our sunny getaways after a chilly start to the year.

But while the thought of relaxing by the pool or enjoying a meal at a fancy restaurant abroad is exciting, getting there can sometimes be a bit stressful.

As reported by Birmingham Live , one of the main stressors is making sure you have the right travel documents with you. If there's a problem with your ID or passport, you might not be allowed on the plane.

  • Devon trio in shock over data breach accusations
  • Devon roads blamed for two serious motorbike crashes during cold snap

So, it's really important to check the rules well before you start packing your bags and heading to the airport. Remember, the rules can be different for domestic and international flights.

Also, don't forget to check your airline's luggage allowances as each one has different rules about what kind of bags you can bring on board. For example, Antler's Ryanair-approved Prestwick Cabin Bag is currently half price, down from £170 to £85, and also fits within the cabin bag rules set by Jet2 and TUI.

We've gathered all the guidelines from Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet about passport control. Scroll down to see each airline's advice according to their websites.

Jet2 Passport rules

When you fly to another country, you need to show a passport or a national ID card that's still good. If you're flying inside your own country and you're 16 or older, you have to show a photo ID that's still good.

We think it's best to have a passport with you on these flights, but we'll also take other kinds of photo IDs if they're still good on the day you travel:.

Kids under 16 don't need a photo ID if they're flying with an adult who has a good photo ID and can say who the child is. Now that the UK isn't in the European Union anymore, countries in the EU need UK passports to be less than ten years old and still good for at least three months after you plan to leave their country.

To make sure your passport is okay for travel, ask yourself two questions for each person going with you (this includes kids) if you can say yes to both, you're all set!

1. When you get to the EU, will your passport's "Date of issue" be less than 10 years old?

2. When you leave the EU, will your passport still have at least three months left (based on the "Date of expiry")?

If you’re travelling to non-EU destinations like Turkey, the rules may be different, so please check here for further information . Find out more here.

Ryanair Passport rules

Photo ID needed for travelling abroad

  • A valid passport
  • For travel outside the EEA (European Economic Area), the passport must be valid for the period of the intended stay, except for the below countries:
  • For travel to Jordan, the passport must be valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay.
  • For travel to Turkey, the passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry.
  • For travel to Montenegro, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months.
  • For travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the passport must be valid for at least 3 months.
  • For travel to Israel, passengers must have a ticket for flying out of the country.
  • All non-EU passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country must make sure that their passport is valid for at least three months from the date they will leave the Schengen member country, unless the person has a Schengen-issued residence permit or long-term visa.

UK passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country (excluding Ireland) as of 1 January 2021 must make sure that their passport:

  • is valid for at least three months from the date they will leave the Schengen member country, unless the person has a Schengen-issued residence permit or long-term visa.
  • should be issued within the previous 10 years upon the date of arrival.

Find out more here.

TUI passport rules

When flying with TUI, passengers must hold valid ID with a photograph i.e. International Passport or EU National ID. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid photo ID. British Citizens must hold a valid 10-year passport. EU National IDs must be valid for entry into the country of intended destination. Passports for British citizens are valid for travel to any EU country up to and including the passport expiry date.

The government recommends that, on the day you travel, you have at least 6 months left on your passport. To travel to Europe, you must have a minimum of three months left on your passport from the day you’re planning to travel home. If your passport doesn’t meet these requirements, you may not be able to travel. Some countries outside of the EU require a British passport to have a certain period of validity left on it, such as 6 months, or blank pages. Please visit the Gov.uk website for advice by country.

UK Citizens can check out the Gov.uk website for passport, visa and health information. Other nationalities should check with their own governments.

It is also your responsibility to check whether you need a visa to enter your destination country. British Citizens under 16 years old, including newborn babies, are required to have a child passport. The child's passport will initially be valid for 5 years, but can be renewed for a further 5 years at the end of this period. You can visit the Gov.uk website for further information and how to apply.

What sort of photo ID do I require for travelling on Domestic/Channel Islands/Irish Republic journeys

For domestic/Channel Islands journeys passengers must present one of the following forms of valid photographic ID:

  • Citizen card
  • Photographic driving license
  • Student Card
  • Forces ID Card
  • Airport/Airline Employees Security ID Pass
  • Police Warrant Card/Badge
  • Photographic Bus Pass

easyJet passport rules

You’ll need to have some form of identification on both domestic and international flights with easyjet .

  • Identification needed for domestic flights
  • Photographic ID is required on all domestic flights.

Children under the age of 16 do not need to show ID on domestic flights (excluding Italy). The adult they are travelling with can vouch for the infant's/child's identity.

Children under 14 on Italian domestic flight must show photographic ID.

Here's a few examples of photographic ID that is accepted:

  • A valid passport - an expired passport can be used up to a maximum of five years after expiry
  • Valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
  • Valid photographic driving licence, provisional or full
  • Valid armed forces identity card
  • Valid police warrant card/badge
  • Identification needed for international flights

All customers travelling on international flights must hold either a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity card or Passport, and, where required, a valid Visa.

Your passport needs to be in good condition and signed. Some countries require that passports are valid for a minimum period beyond your trip, usually three or six months.

Please check your passport's expiry and issue date before you travel. If you're a UK passport holder travelling to the EU (except Ireland), or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City or Switzerland, your passport will need to meet the following criteria:

It must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to depart from the EU or above countries*

It must be no more than 10 years' old on the date of travel to the EU or above countries.

Visit the UK government’s advice page for more information.

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.

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United Kingdom

Latest update.

Exercise a high degree of caution in the UK due to the threat of terrorism.

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Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies, advice levels.

Exercise a high degree of caution in the UK.

Exercise a high degree of caution in the UK due to the threat of terrorism.

  • On 28 March 2023, the terrorism threat level for  Northern Ireland  was raised from 'substantial' to 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely.
  • International terrorists have staged attacks in the UK. The  UK Government's national terrorism threat level  is 'substantial', meaning it assesses an attack is likely. 
  • Islamic extremism, extreme right-wing ideology and the status of Northern Ireland contribute to the threat. Always be alert to terrorism. Take official warnings seriously. 
  • Avoid areas where protests are occurring due to the potential for disruption and violence. Monitor the media for information and updates. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

Full travel advice:  Safety

  • Stay up to date with  public health guidance  and confirm coverage with your insurance provider.
  • Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel, and ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance.
  • The standard of medical facilities in the UK is good.
  • We have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Some GP and hospital treatments are free if you're in the UK for a short visit. If you stay more than 6 months, you'll pay a surcharge when applying for your visa.

Full travel advice:  Health

  • Penalties for drug offences are severe. Don't use or carry illegal drugs.

Full travel advice:  Local laws

Regular strikes can occur across several industries, including ambulance services, hospitals and public transport. Check  National Rail  or the  Transport for London  websites for the latest service updates.

  • If you're travelling to the UK as a tourist for less than 6 months, you usually don't require a visa. If you plan to visit the UK for more than 6 months or for any purpose other than tourism, you should consult  UK Home Office  for the most up-to-date information.
  • Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest high commission or consulate of the United Kingdom for the latest details.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

  • The  Consular Services Charter  details what we can and can't do to help you overseas.
  • Contact the  Australian High Commission  in London for consular help.
  • To stay up to date with local information, follow the High Commission's social media accounts.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

The overall UK terrorism threat level is currently 'substantial' (level 3 of 5), meaning an attack is likely. The 3 key sources of this threat are groups or individuals motivated by:

  • Islamic extremism  
  • extreme right-wing ideology
  • the status of Northern Ireland.

UK authorities have installed security barriers on London's major bridges.

Remain vigilant and:

  • be alert to the danger of terrorism
  • be aware of your surroundings
  • report suspicious behaviour or bags left alone on public transport and in other public places to the police
  • monitor official warnings
  • follow the advice of local authorities.

Northern Ireland

On 28 March 2023, the terrorism threat level for  Northern Ireland  was raised from 'substantial' to 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely.

In the past, terrorist groups have used firearms and bombs to target security forces. They have attacked or have attempted attacks in public places. Civilians have been at risk.

There's also a risk of isolated violence by dissident groups in Northern Ireland, focused primarily on police and military targets.

Northern Ireland has previously experienced street violence and rioting, including attacks on police with stones, fireworks and petrol bombs. The violence has mainly occurred in loyalist areas in west and south Belfast, Londonderry, and parts of County Antrim. 

Avoid areas where violence is occurring and follow the advice of authorities.

More information:

  • Terrorism threat levels in the UK

International terrorism

Terrorists have attacked other European cities.

Targets have included:

  • public transport and transport hubs
  • sporting venues and mass gatherings, including places popular with foreigners.
  • Terrorism and national emergencies

Civil unrest and political tension

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

To stay safe:

  • avoid all protests
  • monitor the media for the latest information
  • follow instructions of local authorities.

Tensions can rise in Northern Ireland from April to August. This worsens in the weeks leading up to 12 July, also known as the 'Twelfth' or 'Orangemen's Day'.

Be alert and aware of your surroundings and safeguard your belongings. Petty crime, including muggings, pickpocketing and mobile phone theft, occurs across the UK. It happens more often in summer.

Be alert to other criminal activities, including drink spiking and fraud.

Violent crimes such as muggings, knife crime and sexual assaults occur across the UK.

  • be alert in crowded and tourist areas, airports, restaurants, pubs and bars, and on public transport
  • when using ATMs and credit cards, keep your card in sight, conceal your PIN and check your bank statements
  • don't accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended in public places, such as bars and nightclubs
  • be alert to suspicious behaviour.

Cyber security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Climate and natural disasters

The UK experiences  severe weather , including:

  • strong winds

Expect transport disruptions.

Monitor  local weather reports . Follow the advice of local authorities.

Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.

  • Travel insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave.

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

  • what activities and care your policy covers
  • that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away (including if stopovers on the way to your destination are covered).

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and  mental health  before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

  • have a basic health check-up   
  • ask if your travel plans may affect your health
  • plan any vaccinations you need.

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you need counselling, the Samaritans provide private phone support. You can call 24 hours a day,  365 days a year on 116 123 (UK free call).

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

  • General health advice
  • Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be illegal or controlled substances, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring  medication , check if it's legal in the UK. Take enough legal medication for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription and a dated letter from your doctor stating the following:

  • what the medication is
  • your required dosage
  • that it's for personal use.

Check the UK  Home Office  for advice about medication.

Health risks

Health risks are broadly similar to those in Australia.

More Information:

  • NHS information and advice

Medical care

Medical facilities.

The standard of medical facilities is similar to those in Australia.

Call the  National Health Service (NHS)  on 111 to find your nearest GP surgery or hospital.

If you need urgent medical care, go to your nearest hospital.

Accessing NHS medical services

There's a reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and the UK.

Some GP and hospital treatments are free if you're in the UK for a short visit.

Check the  Department of Human Services  to find out what's covered. You'll need to prove you're eligible.

This agreement doesn't cover other countries in the EU.

If you stay for over 6 months, you'll pay an  Immigration Health Surcharge . This will be charged when you apply for your visa.

Your details will be shared with the NHS when your visa is granted, allowing you access to medical care. Under this scheme, you must produce your  biometric residence permit  at the doctor's or hospital.

There may be delays in accessing medical treatment through the NHS.

The NHS won't cover the cost if you need a medical evacuation. Medical evacuation can be very expensive. Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave Australia.

You're subject to local laws and penalties, including those that appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling, especially for an extended stay.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Penalties for possessing, using or trafficking illegal drugs are severe. They include imprisonment and fines.

  • Carrying or using drugs
  • Arrested or jailed
  • Controlled substances (GOV.UK)

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

  • Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

The UK recognises dual nationality.

  • Dual nationals

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.

If you're travelling to the UK as a tourist for less than 6 months, you usually won't need a visa.

If you're travelling to the UK for other purposes, seek guidance from the  UK's Visa and Immigration Service  on obtaining a visa.

The UK can refuse entry without a visa if they think you're trying to enter for something other than tourism. You'll need a visa if you plan to do  paid or unpaid work ,  volunteer  or  get married . Arrange this before you travel.

Australian Government officials can't help you change your UK visa status.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the  UK High Commission  for details about visas, currency and customs. 

Departure from the UK

Stay in touch with your airline for the latest information on disruptions which can occur at short notice.

Check your route carefully with your travel provider, travel agent, and  Smartraveller  to confirm transit or entry requirements.

Other formalities

If you’re travelling on an Australian ePassport, you can use eGates on arrival in the UK, free of charge. You don't need to complete a landing card.

You can use eGates if you're:

  • over the age of 12 years with an Australian ePassport
  • a member of the registered traveller service

You need a stamp in your passport if you're:

  • travelling on an emergency passport or Document of Identity travel document
  • visiting for short-term study (less than six months)
  • visiting for other specific reasons or certain types of work (such as Permitted Paid Engagements or with a Tier 5 Creative and Sporting certificate of sponsorship)

Read the   Guide to faster travel through the UK border .

UK airports have extensive security screening. If you're flying to or transiting through the UK, allow extra time. Check  UK Department of Transport  for details.

Check  UK Visas and Immigration  for details. Also, check the UK's hand luggage rules.

Contact your airline or travel provider for more details.

The UK and the EU provide updated guidance on the implications of Brexit for issues such as travel, residency, education and employment. You can check for the latest information on the websites of the  UK Government  and the  European Commission .

  • Brexit bulletin

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. You can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

  • In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
  • If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier 

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing an 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

More information:   

  • LGBTI travellers  

The official currency is the Pound Sterling (GBP).

ATMs are available and credit cards are widely used.  Contactless payment is widely accepted.

If you're travelling to or from a non-European Union (EU) country, declare cash of more than 10,000 euros or equivalent. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

You may have to pay a penalty if you don't declare this cash.

  • UK Visas and Immigration

Local travel

Severe weather can affect airline, bus and train services. Check with local transport providers for up-to-date details.

Driving permit

You can drive a car or motorbike for up to 12 months. You need a full Australian licence for the relevant vehicle. After 12 months, you'll need to get a UK driver's licence. An International Driving Permit isn't required.

If riding a motorcycle, always wear a helmet.

Road travel

Road and safety conditions in the UK are comparable to those in Australia. Follow the advice from local authorities.

  • Driving or riding

Some people have reported  sexual assaults  and  robberies  in unlicensed taxis. Only use officially marked taxis.

Rail travel

Rail services are extensive. They can be affected by industrial action, weather, or engineering work.

Check  National Rail  or the  Transport for London  websites for the latest service updates.

  • Transport and getting around safely

The Australian Government doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check the  UK's air safety air profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

  • family and friends
  • travel agent
  • insurance provider

Always get a police report when reporting a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

For criminal issues that aren't an emergency:

  • call 101 for the local police
  • call 0800 555 111 to make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australian High Commission, London

Australia House Strand London WC 2B 4LA, United Kingdom Phone: (+44 20) 7379 4334 Fax: (+44 20) 7887 5559 Website:  uk.highcommission.gov.au Facebook:  Australian High Commission in the United Kingdom Twitter:  @AusHouseLondon Twitter:  @AusHCUK

Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

  • +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
  • 1300 555 135 in Australia

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Belfast Live

Full list of passport rules for TUI, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and British Airways

P eople gearing up for holidays this year need to know the different passport rules of different airlines before they fly including Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, easyJet and British Airways.

Since the UK left the European Union, British passport holders have been subject to more stringent rules regarding their travel documents. Many of those who fall foul of new travel rules have found themselves blocked from travelling and losing out on a pricey break.

As well as their being slightly complex national rules to follow regarding issue and expiry date - which we have explained previously - airlines have specific hoops they ask passengers to jump through before they are able to fly, Birmingham Mail reported.

Read more : Five-minute passport check for UK holidaymakers before booking your 2024 trip

Read more: Latest hand luggage rules for airlines including EasyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair .

We take a look at some of the guidelines issued by the biggest UK airlines including what you can expect when moving through passport control - check out the guide below. If you're not sure about your documents, make sure to get in touch with them direct as soon as possible so they can advise if there are any documents you need to get updated.

When you're flying to another country, you need to show a passport or a national ID card that's still valid. If you're flying inside your own country and you're 16 or older, you have to show an up to date photo ID. It may be wise to have a passport with you on such flights in case staff raise issues.

Children who are younger than 16 don't need a photo ID if they're flying with an adult who has one and can say who the child is. Now that the UK isn't in the European Union anymore, countries in the EU want UK passports to be less than ten years old and still valid for at least three months after you plan to leave the country.

To make sure your passport is okay for travel, ask yourself two questions for each person going with you (this includes kids) if you can say yes to both, you're all set:

1. When you get to the EU, will your passport's 'date of issue' be less than 10 years old?

2. When you leave the EU, will your passport still have at least three months left (based on the 'date of expiry')?

If you're going to places that aren't in the EU, like Turkey, the rules might be different, so make sure to check on the Foreign Office's website for specific country-by-country rules.

If you're travelling abroad with Ryanair, you must have a valid passport. For travel outside the EEA (European Economic Area), the passport must be valid for the period of the intended stay, except for the below countries.

The budget airline imposes different rules for different countries outside of the EEA. Those going to Jordan must have a passport which is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay.

When heading to Turkey the passport must be valid for six months from the date of entry, while trips to Montenegro require a passport that is valid for at least three months. For travel to Israel, passengers must have a ticket for flying out of the country.

All non-EU passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country must make sure that their passport is valid for at least three months from the date they will leave the Schengen member country, unless the person has a Schengen-issued residence permit or long-term visa.

UK passport holders travelling into a Schengen member country (excluding Ireland) as of 1 January 2021 must make sure that their passport:

Make sure to check the rules of the specific country you're travelling to on the Ryanair website and Foreign Office. It is important to note requirements relating to passport issue and validity date, as these can vary country to country quite significantly.

When flying with TUI, passengers must hold a valid ID with a photograph, such as an international passport or EU National ID. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid photo ID. British Citizens must hold a valid 10-year passport.

EU National IDs must be valid for entry into the country of intended destination. Passports for British citizens are valid for travel to any EU country up to and including the passport expiry date.

The UK Government recommends that on the day you travel you have at least six months left on your passport. Anything less than this may see you face issues at the border. To go to Europe, you must have a minimum of three months left on your passport from the day you're planning to travel home.

Some countries outside of the EU require a British passport to have a certain period of validity left on it, such as six months, or blank pages. Visit the Gov.uk website for advice on a country-by-country basis. It is also your responsibility to check whether you need a visa to enter your destination country, TUI warns.

British Citizens under 16 years old, including newborn babies, are required to have a child passport. The child's passport will initially be valid for five years, but can be renewed for a further five years at the end of this period.

You'll need to have some form of identification on both domestic and international flights with easyJet.

Photographic ID is required on all domestic flights. Children under the age of 16 do not need to show ID on domestic flights (excluding Italy). The adult they are travelling with can vouch for the infant's/child's identity. Children under 14 on Italian domestic flight must show photographic ID.

All customers travelling on international flights must hold either a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity card or Passport, and, where required, a valid visa. Your passport needs to be in good condition and signed. Some countries require that passports are valid for a minimum period beyond your trip, usually three or six months.

Make sure to check your passport's expiry and issue date before you travel. If you're a UK passport holder travelling to the EU (except Ireland), or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City or Switzerland, your passport will need to meet the following criteria:

It must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to depart from the EU or above countries. It must be no more than 10 years' old on the date of travel to the EU or above countries.

Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.

British Airways

The UK's flag carrier notes the same EU entry/exit rules on its website as other airlines, but also urges passenger to make sure that their documents "meet the specific passport validity requirements for your destination" - directing them towards the IATA Travel Centre for more information.

BA also notes that passports must be signed by their owner. "You may be denied entry or fined in some countries for travelling with an unsigned passport," the airline warns.

With BA children need their own passports to travel internationally, including infants under two. Infant and children's passports are only valid for five years, so please check the expiry date before departure.

"Please note, it's your responsibility to ensure you have valid documentation when you travel. If you fail to comply with these requirements, you may not be allowed to travel, or you may be refused entry at your destination and have to pay associated costs," the airline warns.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Passport Control

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  1. Advice for British nationals travelling and living in Europe

    travelling europe with british passport

  2. UK Passport: When Travelling to Europe

    travelling europe with british passport

  3. New British Passport

    travelling europe with british passport

  4. Brits Travelling to EU: Tool Launched for Checking Passport Validity

    travelling europe with british passport

  5. British passport new

    travelling europe with british passport

  6. Passport UK: How leaving the EU effects passport renewal and travel in

    travelling europe with british passport

COMMENTS

  1. Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

    Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on ...

  2. Visiting Europe from January 2024: A guide for British travellers

    British tourists can still visit Europe without a visa. UK citizens are permitted visa exemption for short trips of under 90 days for tourism or business within the Schengen zone. However, in the near future, UK passport holders will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver online and pay a small fee before travelling to the Schengen Area.

  3. What are the passport rules for travelling to Europe?

    British travellers will need a visa-waiver to visit most EU countries from 2024. When the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias) launches, UK passport-holders will have to pay a fee of €7 (£6) for an electronic travel authorisation. Passport stamping is also due to be replaced by biometric checks next year.

  4. Travelling To Europe After Brexit: Everything You Need To Know

    You should probably check your passport. Up until January 2021, all UK citizens with a valid passport were able to travel freely throughout Europe. Now, though, you may need to renew your passport ...

  5. Travel documents for UK nationals and their family members ...

    When travelling to the Schengen area for short stays, you are not required to have a short-stay visa (Schengen visa) when crossing the external borders, if your intended stay is up to a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. However, border guards will stamp your passport on entry to and exit from the Schengen area to ensure you respect this 90-day limitation.

  6. Is my passport valid for travel to Europe?

    Wednesday May 10 2023, 09:00am. If your passport is more than ten years old or there is less than three months left before it expires, you may not be able to use it to travel to certain countries ...

  7. Travel documents for EU nationals

    Documents you need for travel in the EU and Schengen countries. As an EU national, you have the right to travel freely in the 27 EU member countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (non-EU countries but members of the Schengen area) carrying either a valid passport or a national identity card (ID).

  8. Urgent UK passport renewal and EU travel rules

    Since Brexit, the rules on passport validity have tightened for Brits visiting Europe. When the UK was in the EU, British passports were valid for travel within the EU up to and including their expiration date. However, since the end of the Brexit transition phase, Britons are now treated as 'third-country nationals' with corresponding ...

  9. What are the passport rules for travelling to Europe, the USA, Turkey

    Since Brexit, the entry requirements for Brits travelling to the European Union have tightened. There are two new passport rules: Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you enter. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. The 10-year rule has been catching out some UK ...

  10. Brexit: how the new rules will change your visits to the EU

    Last modified on Mon 4 Jan 2021 07.34 EST. Before Brexit, UK citizens could travel, live, go on holiday and work anywhere in the EU without any special permits or visas. As of 1 January 2021 that ...

  11. How has Brexit changed travel for UK visitors to Europe?

    When travelling through EU airports, fast-track lanes for passport control are no longer open to British travellers, meaning longer queues. Vehicles queue at the border control booths at the Port ...

  12. Travelling in Europe

    Travelling in Europe. This advice applies to England. See advice for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales. If you're planning to travel in the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein you should: check the latest travel advice on GOV.UK - there might be extra rules because of coronavirus. check your passport is valid for the dates you ...

  13. How Brexit has changed travel to Europe, from passport rules to data

    At 11pm on 31 January, 2020, the UK ceased to be a member state of the bloc. The Brexit referendum result would set in motion the start of new border rules for British passport holders travelling ...

  14. The little-known British passport rule that could cost you your Europe

    When the UK was a member of the European Union, British passports remained valid up to and including their expiry date for travel to other EU countries. ... Passports must have been issued less ...

  15. How should I enter Schengen as a dual UK & EU citizen?

    As the title suggests, I hold two passports (Italy & UK) and I would like to use my British passport to travel to the EU in a few weeks' time. My outbound journey has an overnight layover in Paris (which will mean I need to enter France and exit the following day), whilst the return is a simple 45min transfer in Amsterdam (AMS).

  16. 'I was in tears': Briton with valid passport barred from flight over

    The more onerous rules, which came into effect in 2021, apply to UK passport holders travelling to any EU country (except Ireland), plus the others in the Schengen zone: Iceland, Liechtenstein ...

  17. Passports: What are the post-Brexit rules for dual-nationals travelling

    The rules on dual-nationality have not changed, but now that the UK is not in the EU, there are strict rules on non-Brits who enter the country (and vice-versa) which has made it trickier for travel. For instance, UK nationals receive a stamp in their passport when entering Schengen member states because they are only allowed to stay up to 90 ...

  18. PDF Travel documents required from EU citizens when travelling to the UK

    nationals) or a passport to enter the UK. Their passport or national identity card has simply to be valid at the time of their entry to the UK. National authorities or travel operators cannot restrict their right to choose which travel document to use to enter the UK by insisting on passports only.

  19. Travel documents for non-EU family members

    Visa application - supporting documents for non-EU family members. Your non-EU family member must include the following documents with their visa application ( no other documents are required ): a valid passport. valid identity card or passport of their EU family member.

  20. UK Passport: When Travelling to Europe

    British passport holders should ensure they pass the following criteria before planning their trip to the EU. passport issued within the previous 10 years. passport is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the EU country you are visiting. These requirements apply to the whole Schengen area, which includes most EU ...

  21. UK passport holders warned to check expiry date after ...

    This allows a passport holder to travel for 90 days (the maximum number of visa free days a UK citizen can visit Europe in a six month period) and still exit with a valid passport.

  22. A Guide To Travelling With Two Passports

    Example 1 - Australian and UK dual citizen travelling from Sydney to London. 1. Booking your flight - Australian passport. 2. Checking in at the airport - Australian passport. 3. Immigration at your departure airport - Australian passport. 4. Immigration at your arrival airport - British passport.

  23. customs and immigration

    @phoog Travelling with the relevent passport make things simpler (no need to make it more complicated). Let's assume the UK government added Using EHIC from 1 January 2021: an EU national living in the UK before the end of 2020 for a good reason. -

  24. Spain travel requirements and rule changes all UK tourists should know

    Passport requirements for British citizens flying to other countries in Europe are stricter post-Brexit, so it's important to check yours is compliant well before your trip.

  25. Europe's travel strikes: Flight and train disruption you can ...

    Both public and private transport operators will be affected, causing major travel disruption across the country. Milan will face further disruption on 22 March as the city's public transport ...

  26. Full list of passport rules for TUI, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and British

    Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card. British Airways

  27. Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet passport rules for 2024

    Passports for British citizens are valid for travel to any EU country up to and including the passport expiry date. The government recommends that, on the day you travel, you have at least 6 ...

  28. United Kingdom Travel Advice & Safety

    travelling on an emergency passport or Document of Identity travel document; visiting for short-term study (less than six months) visiting for other specific reasons or certain types of work (such as Permitted Paid Engagements or with a Tier 5 Creative and Sporting certificate of sponsorship) Read the Guide to faster travel through the UK border.

  29. All Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and easyJet passport rules for 2024 as

    Ryanair passport rules. Photo ID needed for travelling abroad: A valid passport; For travel outside the EEA (European Economic Area), the passport must be valid for the period of the intended stay ...

  30. Full list of passport rules for TUI, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and British

    Since the UK left the European Union, British passport holders have been subject to more stringent rules regarding their travel documents. Many of those who fall foul of new travel rules have ...